title: Consistent viral DNA quantification after prolonged storage at ambient temperature.
abstract: Long-term storage of biological specimens at low temperatures is costly and impractical in resource limited settings, where the disease burden of chronic viral infections is highest, and the need for research greatest. We examined the necessity of cold storage by comparing the quantity of HHV-8 DNA recovered from swab samples before and after 9-11 months of storage at temperatures of -20 °C, 4 °C and 37 °C. Quantitative levels of HHV-8 DNA remained consistent for laboratory or mucosal swab samples regardless of storage temperature. Freezer storage is determined to be not necessary for mucosal samples destined for HHV-8 DNA quantification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, United States.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zaniello
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, United States; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, United States.
authors.forename: Meei-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, United States.
authors.forename: Anqi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, United States.
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Selke
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, United States; Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, United States; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, United States; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, United States.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wald
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, United States; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, United States.
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Jerome
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, United States; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, United States; Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, United States. Electronic address: amag@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Amalia S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Magaret
mesh_terms: D015925:Cryopreservation; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000821:virology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Freezing; HHV-8; Real-time PCR; Room temperature; Storage