Establishment and application of digital PCR method for Babesia detection / 中国输血杂志

ABSTRACT

【Objective】 To establish an efficient digital PCR method for Babesia detection, so as to provide data reference for the follow-up studies and the evaluation of blood supply safety in China. 【Methods】 18S rRNA conservative gene sequence of Babesia spp. was downloaded from Genbank, and primers were designed according to the common part of the sequence to establish a highly sensitive and absolutely quantitative digital PCR detection method for Babesia detection. A total of 1000 red blood cell samples collected from voluntary blood donors in Mudanjiang City from July 19, 2016 to August 24, 2016 were detected using this new digital PCR method. 【Results】 The established digital PCR method for Babesia detection showed a good repeatability and could steadily detect the mono-copied nuclear acid. The positive rate was 0.2%(2/1 000)by this method. The two blood donors were further confirmed positive by Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA), and preliminarily judged as asymptomatic infection. 【Discussion】 The digital PCR method for Babesia detection established in this study has high sensitivity and stability, and the its application on blood screening is conductive to reduce the threats of asymptomatic infection to blood safety