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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 1999, p. 1352-1355, Vol. 37, No. 5
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Laboratory Diagnosis of Common Viral Infections of the Central Nervous System by Using a Single Multiplex PCR Screening Assay

Steven J. Read1,2,* and John B. Kurtz2

Micropathology Ltd., University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry CV4 7EZ,1 and Department of Virology, Public Health Laboratory, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU,2 United Kingdom

Received 14 September 1998/Returned for modification 19 November 1998/Accepted 29 January 1999

A multiplex PCR assay that detects the four commonest causes of viral meningitis and encephalitis in the United Kingdom (herpes simplex virus [HSV] type 1 [HSV-1], HSV type 2 [HSV-2], varicella-zoster virus [VZV], and enteroviruses) was developed, and its sensitivity was compared with those of similar assays described previously for this application. Compared to the previous assays, this single multiplex PCR assay had higher molecular sensitivities for the detection for each of the viruses and improved utility for routine use in a diagnostic laboratory. The assay was used to test a series of 1,683 consecutive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples between June 1997 and March 1998 inclusively. Viral nucleic acid was detected in 138 (8.2%) of the CSF samples, including enteroviruses in 51 samples, HSV-2 in 33 samples, VZV in 28 samples, and HSV-1 in 25 samples. Compared to the accepted relative incidence of viral etiologies, aseptic meningitis due to HSV-2 infection was high, and in adult female patients with symptoms of aseptic meningitis, HSV-2 was the virus most commonly detected in the CSF.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Micropathology Ltd., University of Warwick Science Park, Venture Centre, Sir William Lyons Rd., Coventry CV4 7EZ, United Kingdom. Phone: 44-(0)121-414-0606. E-mail: read{at}telinco.co.uk.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 1999, p. 1352-1355, Vol. 37, No. 5
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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