title: PET-PCR method for the molecular detection of malaria parasites in a national malaria surveillance study in Haiti, 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, a real-time PCR assay known as photo-induced electron transfer (PET)-PCR which relies on self-quenching primers for the detection of Plasmodium spp. and Plasmodium falciparum was described. PET-PCR assay was found to be robust, and easier to use when compared to currently available real-time PCR methods. The potential of PET-PCR for molecular detection of malaria parasites in a nationwide malaria community survey in Haiti was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA from the dried blood spots was extracted using QIAGEN methodology. All 2,989 samples were screened using the PET-PCR assay in duplicate. Samples with a cycle threshold (CT) of 40 or less were scored as positive. A subset of the total samples (534) was retested using a nested PCR assay for confirmation. In addition, these same samples were also tested using a TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12 out of the 2,989 samples screened (0.4%) were found to be positive by PET-PCR (mean CT value of 35.7). These same samples were also found to be positive by the nested and TaqMan-based methods. The nested PCR detected an additional positive sample in a subset of 534 samples that was not detected by either PET-PCR or TaqMan-based PCR method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the nested PCR was found to be slightly more sensitive than the PET-PCR, it is not ideal for high throughput screening of samples. Given the ease of use and lower cost than the nested PCR, the PET-PCR provides an alternative assay for the rapid screening of a large number of samples in laboratory settings.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Atlanta, GA, USA. NLucchi@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Naomi W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Lucchi
authors.forename: Mara A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Karell
authors.forename: Ito
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Journel
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rogier
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ljolje
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Kimberly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mace
authors.forename: Samuel E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jean
authors.forename: Eniko E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Akom
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oscar
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buteau
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boncy
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Barnwell
authors.forename: Venkatachalam
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Udhayakumar
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan