[Simultaneous detection of measles and rubella virus by multiplex real-time RT-PCR with an internal control]

Measles and rubella virus cause fever rash diseases that are uneasy to differentiate clinically from each other. Specific primers and fluorescence-labeled probes were designed, and a multiplex Real-time RT-PCR with an internal control was developed to simultaneously identify the measles and rubella virus. The multiplex Real-time RT-PCR assay was specific and no false positive or false negative results were found. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.1TCID50/mL and 1TCID50/mL for measles and rubella virus respectively. Analysis with 0.1-10(3)TCID50/mL measles or rubella virus samples demonstrated high validity and reproducibility with the coefficient of variability(CV) of below 0.9% for both measles and rubella virus. Using ribonuclease P (RNase P) as internal false negative control, the developed multiplex Real-time RT-PCR assay is suitable for rapid clinical diagnosis of measles and rubella virus.