Real-Time PCR for Detecting Herpes Simplex Virus Without Nucleic Acid Extraction
Author Information
Author(s): Mark W Pandori, John Lei, Ernest H Wong, Jeff Klausner, Sally Liska
Primary Institution: San Francisco Department of Public Health
Hypothesis
Is nucleic acid extraction necessary for the detection of herpes simplex virus in clinical specimens using real-time PCR?
Conclusion
Omitting the nucleic acid extraction step prior to real-time PCR for detecting herpes simplex virus results in a faster and more cost-effective assay with minimal impact on sensitivity.
Supporting Evidence
- Real-time PCR can detect HSV in unextracted specimens without losing specificity.
- Detection sensitivity is reduced by 2 to 5 times when not extracting nucleic acids.
- All specimens tested showed concordance in results between extracted and unextracted forms.
Takeaway
You can test for herpes virus without having to extract DNA from samples first, which saves time and money.
Methodology
Analyzed clinical specimens for HSV using real-time PCR with and without nucleic acid extraction.
Limitations
The study only addresses swab specimens in viral transport buffer and may not apply to other specimen types.
Participant Demographics
Included both male and female patients from various anatomical sites.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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