Tetraplex PCR

Dear all,

last 10-14 working days left. Hang in there!
Anyway i have mentioned about Real Time PCR and the Molecular probes for Real Time PCR. So lets talk old school, Conventional PCR.

Tetraplex is a panel developed by the scientific officers of the lab. Heard that it is a request from doctors thus resulting in the test being developed.
The panel consist of 4 viruses,
1. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
2. Varicella – Zoster Virus (VZV)
3. Toxoplasma Gondii (Toxo)
4. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)

Specimen received are either CSF or Aqueous eye fluid (no preference of which eye).

The specimen will go through a manual DNA extraction process to get the DNA.

The difference from what we learn in school as compared to this is that in school, there is only 1 time PCR (1round PCR). However, for Tetraplex, this is a 2 round PCR.
As told by the med techs, the 2nd round is to improve the sensitivity.
Also, for PCR, each patient will have samples, 1 normal sample and another is a spike in.
Spike in is to add positive control to the sample. This is for ruling out any false positive.

After the second round, it will under go a gel electrophoresis.
Gene ruler, the 4 different controls, "spike in" samples and actual samples are added to separate well but on the same slab of gel.

After electrophersis, the gel will be put into the chemimager and we will check for the corresponding base pairs to check if it is pos/neg.

Upon receive a POS, the ministry has to be notified.

Thats all for this post. I'm sorry that i cant go into the details (Supervisor dont approve)...

Cheers.
Tiong han
Tg01