[Development of the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay for the rapid detection of rubella virus].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: A new TaqMan probe based real-time assay was developed to rapid detection of rubella virus. METHODS: The specific primer pair and probe were designed within the conserved P150 gene of rubella virus and the PCR reactive condition was optimized to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Clinical specimens collected from two outbreaks were detected by the developed assay. RESULTS: The assay is specific to detect rubella virus. There is no cross-reactions to measles, mumps, influenza and other respiratory viruses. It could detect 0.01 TCID50/tube of rubella RNA and took only three hours to finish a detection. In addition, the assay is simple, accurate and repeatable. CONCLUSION: The TaqMan based real-time PCR developed in this study provides a fast, sensitive and specific tool for molecular diagnosis on rubella virus.