Volume 9, Number 9, September 2003

Human Metapneumovirus Detection in Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Paul K.S. Chan,* John S. Tam,* Ching-Wan Lam,* Edward Chan,* Alan Wu,* Chi-Kong Li,* Thomas A. Buckley,* King-Cheung Ng,* Gavin M. Joynt,* Frankie W.T. Cheng,* Ka-Fai To,* Nelson Lee,* David S.C. Hui,* Jo L.K. Cheung,* Ida Chu,* Esther Liu,* Sydney S.C. Chung,* and Joseph J.Y. Sung*
*Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China

Figure 4. Combination approach of conventional virus isolation and molecular techniques to detect human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were examined in this study. This approach can be applied to other respiratory specimens. Prolonged incubation of rhesus monkey kidney (LLC-MK2) cells to 28 days for culture of original specimens may improve sensitivity of detection. Detection based on cytopathic effect is not sensitive for first-round culture from original specimens. All cell cultures should be examined by HMPV–specific reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

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This page last reviewed August 1, 2003

Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention