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

• 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
• Journal Title: Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Volume: Volume 212, Number suppl 2
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B - Oxford Open Option C | 2015-10-01, Pages S346-S349
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiv187
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Biology, Virology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Immunology; Infectious Diseases; Microbiology; Ebola; qRT-PCR; virus isolation; HEMORRHAGIC-FEVER; OUTBREAK; PROTECTION

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.