Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1, Type 2, Cytomegalovirus, and Varicella-Zoster Virus in Ocular Viral Infections

Abstract

Purpose: To detect simultaneously herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), type 2 (HSV-2), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in ocular specimens suspected of indicating viral infection, and to compare the results of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with those of uniplex PCR. Methods: Forty specimens, collected from 33 patients with clinically suspected herpes virus ocular infection, were tested. DNA was extracted from the specimens and amplified by multiplex and uniplex PCR. Results: Both multiplex PCR and uniplex PCR gave the same results. Nineteen (19/33, 57.6%) patients were PCR-positive, among whom HSV-1 was detected in 13 (13/19, 68.4%) patients, and VZV in 6 (6/19, 31.6%) patients. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that multiplex PCR is as reliable as uniplex PCR, and is an accurate and a cost-saving method to identify several agents from a single specimen.