Detection and typing of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction

The development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction method for the rap id and accurate detection and typing of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV from clinical specimens is described. A sensitive multiplex polymerase chain reaction wa s achieved by optimization of parameters such as the primers, magnesium, an d dNTPs concentrations. False-negative results that sometimes arise due to inhibitors of DNA amplification or failure of DNA extraction procedure used may be avoided by assaying each specimen with alpha-tublin primers. Multip lex PCR amplified viral sequences from all 55 specimens obtained from patie nts with clinical evidence of HSV or VZV infection indicated 100% sensitivi ty. From 55 patients who were investigated by multiplex PCR, HSV-I was dete cted in 28, HSV-2 in 20, and VZV in 7 specimens. The reported results indic ate that the present multiplex PCR assay has a potential application in cli nical diagnosis when a rapid and accurate detection and typing of involved viruses HSV-I, HSV-2, or VZV is needed. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.