Marked variability of BK virus load measurement using quantitative real-time PCR among commonly used assays.

ABSTRACT: BK virus (BKV) is the infectious cause of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy. Screening guidelines for renal-transplant recipients define levels of viremia and viruria that are actionable for additional testing or intervention. However, standardized real-time PCR primers, probes, and standards are unavailable, and the extent of agreement among published assays is unknown. We compared seven TaqMan real-time PCR primer/probe sets (three designed at this institution, three described in the literature, and one purchased) in conjunction with two different standards to prospectively measure BKV titers in 251 urine specimens submitted to our clinical laboratory. We observed substantial disagreement among assays attributable both to features of primer and probe design and to choice of reference m

SUBMITTER: Hoffman NG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2519469 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature