

@article {1803,
	title = {Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction detection of the enteroviruses},
	journal = {Arch Pathol Lab Med},
	volume = {123},
	number = {12},
	year = {1999},
	note = {Romero, J R eng Review 1999/12/03 Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1999 Dec;123(12):1161-9.},
	pages = {1161-9},
	type = {Journal Article},
	abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This review focuses on commercial and in-house-developed reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays used for the detection of enteroviral infections. In addition to providing details on the performance of RT-PCR, its specificity, and sensitivity, the clinical utility of this diagnostic method with specific reference to its impact on hospitalization and cost savings is addressed. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE was searched for reports relating to RT-PCR detection of the enteroviruses in adults and children. The search was restricted to studies reported in English language journals. STUDY SELECTION: Reports documenting detailed information regarding the RT-PCR conditions, primers, sensitivity, specificity and, if relevant, clinical impact were selected for analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: Details regarding method of extraction of the enteroviral genome, the primers used, RT-PCR conditions, and sensitivity and specificity of the assay were extracted from the literature. For reports detailing the use of RT-PCR in the clinical management of enteroviral infections in children, the reduction in duration of hospitalization and health care cost savings were recorded. DATA SYNTHESIS: Reverse-transcription PCR can increase the yield of detection of enteroviruses from cerebrospinal fluid by a mean of approximately 20\% over tissue culture. Reverse-transcription PCR of cerebrospinal fluid has been shown to exhibit sensitivity and specificity values of 86\% to 100\% and 92\% to 100\%, respectively. Reductions of 1 to 3 days of hospitalization per patient are predicted if RT-PCR is used to diagnose enteroviral meningitis in children. CONCLUSIONS: Reverse-transcription PCR detection of enteroviral infections is an extremely rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic modality. Both commercial assays and assays developed in-house appear to be equivalent with regard to sensitivity and specificity. Reverse-transcription PCR diagnosis of enteroviral infections in children could reduce the length of hospitalization and result in significant health care cost savings.},
	keywords = {Enterovirus/*isolation \& purification Enterovirus Infections/virology Genome, Viral Humans Pediatrics/methods RNA, Viral/isolation \& purification Reproducibility of Results Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/*standards Sensitivity and Specificity Specimen Handling},
	issn = {0003-9985 (Print) 0003-9985 (Linking)},
	doi = {10.1043/0003-9985(1999)123<1161:RTPCRD>2.0.CO;2},
	url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10583920},
	author = {Romero, J. R.}
}
