The human polyomavirus, JCV, is the etiologic agent of the demyelinating disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephelopathy (PML). Real time polymerase chain reaction, qPCR, uses primers and probes specific to a highly conserved region of the JC Virus genome that has a sensitivity of 10 copies of viral DNA per ml of clinical sample, i.e. CSF, plasma/serum with 100% specificity. In addition to clinical signs, MRI evidence of brain lesions, the detection of viral DNA in CSF allows the laboratory confirmatory diagnosis of PML.

Gene Major, Ph.D.
majorg@ninds.nih.gov
301.496.1635

http://neuroscience.nih.gov/Lab.asp?Org_ID=530