Assessment and Optimization of the GeneXpert Diagnostic Platform for Detection of Ebola Virus RNA in Seminal Fluid

作者：Pettitt James; Higgs Elizabeth; Fallah Mosoka; Nason Martha; Stavale Eric; Marchand Jonathan; Reilly Cavan; Jensen Kenneth; Dighero Kemp Bonnie; Tuznik Kaylie; Logue James; Bolay Fatorma; Hensley Lisa^*

来源：Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2017, 215(4): 547-553.

DOI：10.1093/infdis/jiw599

• Ebola virus
• Diagnostics Test
• Semen
• RNA
• Viral persistence
• Survivors
• filoviruses

Recent studies have suggested that Ebola virus (EBOV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) potentially present in the semen of a large number of survivors of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Western Africa may contribute to sexual transmission of EVD and generate new clusters of cases in regions previously declared EVD-free. These findings drive the immediate need for a reliable, rapid, user-friendly assay for detection of EBOV RNA in semen that is deployable to multiple sites across Western Africa. In this study, we optimized the Xpert EBOV assay for semen samples by adding dithiothreitol. Compared to the assays currently in use in Liberia (including Ebola Zaire Target 1, major groove binder real-time-polymerase chain reaction assays, and original Xpert EBOV assay), the modified Xpert EBOV assay demonstrated greater sensitivity than the comparator assays. Thus, the modified Xpert EBOV assay is optimal for largescale monitoring of EBOV RNA persistence in male survivors.

• 出版日期2017-2-15