Journal article

Varicella zoster virus quantitation in blood from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals

CS Toi, MLJ Lay, R Lucas, CB Chew, J Taylor, AL Ponsonby, DE Dwyer

Journal of Medical Virology | WILEY-BLACKWELL | Published : 2013

Abstract

Primary infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV) occurs in immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. Clinical and asymptomatic reactivation with shedding of infectious virus and viremia may occur. The prevalence of VZV viremia is unknown. The aim of this study was to detect VZV viremia and quantify VZV DNA using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in blood from different populations. A qPCR-based method using EvaGreen® was used to quantify VZV DNA in 491 samples, including whole blood, plasma and buffy-coat, from patients hospitalized with varicella-associated disease (Group 1, n = 10) and three groups with no VZV disease: individuals with a first clinical diagnosis of ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers