Densitometric determination of human papillomavirus DNA quantities by chromato-scanning in the fluorescence mode

The quantitation of human papillomavirus DNA isolated from warts by chromato-scanning (fluorescence mode) photographs of ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels is described. Excitation at 200 nm (with a cutoff filter at 400 nm) generates fluorescence from the white portion of the printing paper. The fluorescent intensity correlated with the quantities of DNA in the band of interest. The amounts of DNA were determined using calibration curves of approximately the same size as lambda phage DNA fragments. This general method of quantification is applicable to photographs of other types of polynucleotides capable of being separated and stained in a gel medium.