title: Assessment and Optimization of the GeneXpert Diagnostic Platform for Detection of Ebola Virus RNA in Seminal Fluid.
abstract: Recent studies have suggested that Ebola virus (EBOV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) potentially present in the semen of a large number of survivors of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Western Africa may contribute to sexual transmission of EVD and generate new clusters of cases in regions previously declared EVD-free. These findings drive the immediate need for a reliable, rapid, user-friendly assay for detection of EBOV RNA in semen that is deployable to multiple sites across Western Africa. In this study, we optimized the Xpert EBOV assay for semen samples by adding dithiothreitol. Compared to the assays currently in use in Liberia (including Ebola Zaire Target 1, major groove binder real-time-polymerase chain reaction assays, and original Xpert EBOV assay), the modified Xpert EBOV assay demonstrated greater sensitivity than the comparator assays. Thus, the modified Xpert EBOV assay is optimal for large-scale monitoring of EBOV RNA persistence in male survivors.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pettitt
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Higgs
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Monrovia, Liberia.
authors.forename: Mosoka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fallah
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nason
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stavale
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Cavan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dighero-Kemp
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kaylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tuznik
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Logue
authors.affiliation: Liberian Institute of Biomedical Research, Charlesville, Liberia.
authors.forename: Fatorma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolay
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hensley
mesh_terms: D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007988:Liberia; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Diagnostics Test; Ebola virus; RNA; Semen; Survivors; Viral persistence; filoviruses