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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2005, p. 5102-5110, Vol. 43, No. 10
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.10.5102-5110.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Development of Multiplex PCRs for Detection of Common Viral Pathogens and Agents of Congenital Infections

C. J. McIver,1,2,3 C. F. H. Jacques,2 S. S. W. Chow,5 S. C. Munro,2,5 G. M. Scott,2,3,5 J. A. Roberts,1 M. E. Craig,4,6 and W. D. Rawlinson1,2,3,5*

Department of Microbiology, South Eastern Area Laboratory Service, Prince of Wales Hospital, New South Wales 2031, Australia,1 School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences,2 School of Medical Sciences,3 School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales 2031, Australia,4 Virology Division, Department of Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, New South Wales 2031, Australia,5 Department of Paediatrics, St George Hospital, New South Wales 2217, Australia6

Received 25 March 2005/ Returned for modification 5 May 2005/ Accepted 7 July 2005

Potential causes of congenital infection include Toxoplasma gondii and viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), enterovirus, hepatitis C virus, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2), human herpesvirus types 6, 7, and 8, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, parvovirus, rubella virus, and varicella-zoster virus. Testing for each of these agents using nucleic acid tests is time consuming and the availability of clinical samples such as amniotic fluid or neonatal blood is often limited. The aim of this study was to develop multiplex PCRs (mPCRs) for detection of DNA and RNA agents in the investigation of congenital infection and an mPCR for the viruses most commonly requested in a diagnostic virology laboratory (CMV, Epstein-Barr virus, enterovirus, HSV-1, HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus). The assays were assessed using known pathogen-positive tissues (cultures, placentae, plasma, and amniotic fluid) and limits of detection were determined for all the agents studied using serial dilutions of plasmid targets. Nested PCR was performed as the most sensitive assay currently available, and detection of the amplicons using hybridization to labeled probes and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detection was incorporated into three of the four assays. This allowed detection of 10 to 102 copies of each agent in the samples processed. In several patients, an unexpected infection was diagnosed, including a case of encephalitis where HSV was the initial clinical suspicion but CMV was detected. In the majority of these cases the alternative agent could be confirmed using reference culture, serology, or fluorescence methods and was of relevance to clinical care of the patient. The methods described here provide useful techniques for diagnosing congenital infections and a paradigm for assessment of new multiplex PCRs for use in the diagnostic laboratory.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, South Eastern Area Laboratory Service, Prince of Wales Hospital, High Street, Randwick, New South Wales 2031, Australia. Phone: 61-2-93829113. Fax: 61-2-93984275. E-mail: w.rawlinson{at}unsw.edu.au.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2005, p. 5102-5110, Vol. 43, No. 10
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.10.5102-5110.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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