Simultaneous detection of viruses and Toxoplasma gondii in cerebrospinal fluid specimens by multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based reverse hybridization assay.

The lack of rapidity and the low sensitivity and specificity of traditional laboratory methods limits their usefulness in the laboratory diagnosis of viral central nervous system (CNS) infections. This study describes the use of a commercially available multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR)-based reverse hybridization assay (RHA) for the simultaneous detection of the genomes of 8 viruses and Toxoplasma gondii in cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) from 181 patients suspected of having viral meningitis. Twenty-two/181 (12.

Prevalence and genotypes identification of human papillomavirus infection in a population of South Italy.

Background: A limited number of human papillomavirus (HPV) types account for the majority of invasive cervical cancer cases.

Objectives: To assess, in a southern Italian region, where HPV infection had not yet been investigated, the prevalence of type-specific HPV infection.

Study Design: Multiplex PCR was used to test cervical specimens from 871 asymptomatic women.