International Collaborative Study To Compare Reverse Transcriptase PCR Assays for Detection and Genotyping of Noroviruses

• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.41.4.1423-1433.2003
• Publication Date: 2003-04-07T20:34:54Z
• Authors: Jan Vinjé; Harry Vennema; Leena Maunula; Carl-Henrik von B...; Marina Hoehne; Eckart Schreier; Alison Richards; Jon Green; David Brown; Suzanne S. Beard; Stephan S. Monroe; Erwin de Bruin; Lennart Svensson; Marion P. G. Koop...
• Keywords: Caliciviridae; Norwalk virus

ABSTRACT To allow more rapid and internationally standardized assessment of the spread noroviruses (previously called Norwalk-like viruses [NLVs]) as important food-borne pathogens, harmonization methods for their detection is needed. Diagnosis NLVs in clinical diagnostic laboratories usually performed by reverse transciptase PCR (RT-PCR) assays. In present study, performance five different RT-PCR assays was evaluated an international collaborative study countries with a coded panel 91 fecal specimens. The were tested sensitivity, limit, ease standardization. total, could be detected at least one assay 69 (84%) samples that originally positive. Sensitivity ranged from 52 to 73% overall 54 100% 58 85% genogroup I II viruses, respectively. all, 64% false-negative results obtained set diluted stools ( n = 20) may have lost quality upon storage. improved when these excluded analysis. No single stood out best, although p1 demonstrated most satisfactory performance. promote comparability data, this will recommended newly starting groups future studies.