Utility of the QIAGEN/ Artus PCR Assays and Meningofinder™ for the Detection of Human Herpes Virus Genomes in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Clinical Samples

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze whether human herpes viruses can be detected from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues with two commercial methods. Materials & methods: In total, 91 clinical FFPE samples were analyzed with QIAGEN/artus (Hilden, Germany) qPCRs and the Meningofinder™ assay from PathoFinder (Maastricht, The Netherlands). Results: A total of 27 out of 91 samples were tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2. Three of these 27 samples (11.1%) were positive for HSV-1 and one sample was positive for HSV-2. Out of 91 samples, 50 were tested for CMV, of which six samples were positive (12%). In total, 12 out of 91 samples were tested for the presence of Varizella zoster virus DNA, revealing one as positive (8%). Finally, two samples were tested negative for EBV. Conclusion: Minor differences were identified between both assays, making them a reliable tool for detection of herpes viruses from FFPE material, although this is an off-label use for both assays.