Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for detection of herpes simplex virus type 1, type 2, cytomegalovirus, and varicella-zoster virus in ocular viral infections.

Objective: 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.

Conclusions: 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.