Identification of a measles variant displaying mutations impacting molecular diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023

Real-time PCR is one of the most widely used techniques to diagnose measles cases. Here we report measles virus variants with three genetic mutations in the reverse primer annealing site of a widely used PCR. The mutations result in a slight loss of the PCR sensitivity. Variants bearing the three mutations presently circulate in different countries since at least the end of 2021. Our findings highlight the usefulness of molecular surveillance in monitoring if oligonucleotides in diagnostic tests remain adequate.