Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A M Ashshi.
Human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) DNA was detected in two of eight fetuses with hydrops and none of ten non-hydropic dead fetuses. Both cases with HHV6 DNA had chromosomal abnormalities. Positive results were confirmed with a second PCR specific for an alternate region of the HHV6 genome. Restriction endonuclease analysis confirmed that the viral DNA was representative of HHV6 type A.
PCR has revolutionized the field of infectious disease diagnosis. To overcome the inherent disadvantage of cost and to improve the diagnostic capacity of the test, multiplex PCR, a variant of the test in which more than one target sequence is amplified using more than one pair of primers, has been developed. Multiplex PCRs to detect viral, bacterial, and/or other infectious agents in one reaction tube have been described. Early studies highlighted the obstacles that can jeopardize the production of sensitive and specific multiplex assays, but more recent studies have provided systematic protocols and technical improvements for simple test design. The most useful of these are the empirical choice of oligonucleotide primers and the use of hot start-based PCR methodology. These advances along with others to enhance sensitivity and specificity and to facilitate automation have resulted in the appearance of numerous publications regarding the application of multiplex PCR in the diagnosis of infectious agents, especially those which target viral nucleic acids. This article reviews the principles, optimization, and application of multiplex PCR for the detection of viruses of clinical and epidemiological importance.