Chemiluminescence detection of epstein-barr virus DNA with an oligonucleotide probe

A sensitive and relatively fast chemiluminescence dot blot hybridization assay for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA was established. A specially designed oligonucleotide probe labeled directly by alkaline phosphatase (AP) and highly sensitive chemiluminescent substrate CDP-star for AP was used in the hybridization assay. About 4 pg purified EBV DNA target can be detected, improved about 10-fold in sensitivity compared with common colorimetric detection. Preliminary EBV clinical testing was carried out on samples of eight cases from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) (six cases) and nasopharyngeal lymphadenosis (two cases). The detection results in positive rate agreement with control PCR detection indicate that the assay is specific and sensitive for EBV. The whole detection procedure can be finished in 6 h. This method might be useful in EBV clinical diagnosis.