Diagnostic reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction kit for filoviruses based on the strain collections of all European biosafety level 4 laboratories

J Infect Dis. 2007 Nov 15;196 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S199-204. doi: 10.1086/520600.

Abstract

A network of European biosafety level 4 laboratories has designed the first industry-standard molecular assay for all filoviruses species, based on the strain collections of all participants. It uses 5 optimized L gene primers and 3 probes, as well as an internal control with a separate detection probe. Detection limits (probit analysis, 95% detection chance) were as follows: Zaire ebolavirus, 487 copies/mL of plasma; Sudan ebolavirus Maleo, 586 copies/mL; Sudan ebolavirus Gulu, 1128 copies/mL; Cote d'Ivoire ebolavirus, 537 copies/mL; Reston ebolavirus, 4546 copies/mL; Lake Victoria marburgvirus Musoke, 860 copies/mL; and Lake Victoria marburgvirus Ravn, 1551 copies/mL. The assay facilitates reliable detection or exclusion screening of filovirus infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • DNA Primers
  • Europe
  • Filoviridae / genetics
  • Filoviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Filoviridae Infections / prevention & control*
  • Haplorhini
  • Humans
  • Laboratories / standards*
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Safety
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic