Relationship Between Ebola Virus Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Threshold Cycle Value and Virus Isolation From Human Plasma

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jessica R. Spengler, Emory University; Anita Katherine McElroy, Emory University; Jessica R. Harmon, Emory University; Ute Stroeher, Emory University; Stuart T. Nichol, Emory University; Christina F. Spiropoulou, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2015-10-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B - Oxford Open Option C
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2015 Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2015. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.
• License: Creative Commons Universal : Public Domain Dedication
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiv187
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Infectious Diseases
• ISSN: 0022-1899
• Volume: 212
• Issue: suppl 2
• Start Page: S346
• End Page: S349
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (loan repayment award to J. R. S. and grant K12 HD072245 to A. K. M); and Burroughs Wellcome (career award to A. K. M.).
• Keywords: virus isolation; PROTECTION; Infectious Diseases; Science & Technology; Immunology; OUTBREAK; Ebola; qRT-PCR; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; HEMORRHAGIC-FEVER; Microbiology
• Research Categories: Biology, Virology; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

We performed a longitudinal analysis of plasma samples obtained from 4 patients with Ebola virus (EBOV) disease (EVD) to determine the relationship between the real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)-based threshold cycle (Ct) value and the presence of infectious EBOV. EBOV was not isolated from plasma samples with a Ct value of >35.5 or >12 days after onset of symptoms. EBOV was not isolated from plasma samples in which anti-EBOV nucleoprotein immunoglobulin G was detected. These data demonstrate the utility of interpreting qRT-PCR results in the context of the course of EBOV infection and associated serological responses for patient-management decisions.