BACKGROUND: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is known as a sensitive and specific method for the detection of varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Nested PCR is reliably used than conventional PCR to increase the sensitivity and specificity, especially in cases of small sized tissue samples. METHODS: We detected VZV infection in tissues from 111 patients using conventional PCR and nested PCR. Ninety-one cases of fresh tissues and twenty cases of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues were evaluated. The column method or home made lysis buffer method was used for the DNA extraction of fresh tissues and FFPE tissues. RESULTS: Among total 111 cases, VZV were detected in 62 (55.9%) cases by conventional PCR and 79 (71.2%) cases by nested PCR. The detection rate of nested PCR was higher than conventional PCR (1.27 folds). In 91 cases of fresh tissues, 56 (61.5%) were positive by conventional PCR and 68 (74.7%) by nested PCR. In 20 cases of FFPE tissues, 6 (30%) were positive by conventional PCR and 11 (55%) by nested PCR. The detection rate of VZV was increased by nested PCR both in fresh tissues (1.21 folds) and FFPE tissues (1.83 folds). CONCLUSIONS: Nested PCR is the more sensitive method than conventional PCR for the detection of VZV infection in tissues regardless of DNA extraction methods, especially for the small sized FFPE tissues.
DNA ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity