A rapid and reliable enzyme immunoassay PCR-based screening method to identify EBV-carrying gastric carcinomas.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with a substantial number of gastric adenocarcinomas worldwide, as confirmed by EBER1/2-RNA in situ hybridization (RISH). In the present study, we developed a rapid and sensitive PCR-based prescreening method for the detection of EBV in gastric carcinomas to reduce the amount of laborious EBER1/2-RISH assays to be performed. The method was evaluated by testing gastric adenocarcinomas (n = 242) using both BamHI W PCR-enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and EBER1/2-RISH, in combination with appropriate DNA and RNA quality controls.