Abstracts summarizing recent research overseen by the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research - 2003
Update on variola and orthopoxvirus diagnostic development and use
I. Damon, R.l. Regnery, Y. Li, V.A. Olson, K. Karem, J. Patton, Z. Braden and N. Bernard
Poxvirus Section, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, United States of America
Please direct all queries to the authors at the addresses given.
Insights from additional sequence information from variola and orthopoxvirus sequencing efforts continues to be applied in the development and validation of real time PCR assay signatures. Work is ongoing to characterize the performance of these assays outside of the research and development laboratories. Recommended use of these assays, in an effort to maximize predictive value positive, is described in a diagnostic laboratory algorithm to support clinical diagnosis of rash illnesses suspicious for smallpox.
Serologic assays, although currently not able to discriminate infectious species of Orthopoxviruses, may have value in detecting recent infection. Use of an IgM capture assay during the recent U.S. monkeypox outbreak will be reviewed.