Virtual quantification of influenza A virus load by real-time RT-PCR.

Background: The pan-influenza A real-time RT-PCR detection assay developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the 2009 pandemic is widely utilized. A quantitative version of the assay may be useful to monitor influenza A infection and response to treatment.

Objectives: To prove in principle the possibility that a virtual quantification tool (VQT) would allow conversion of CDC real-time RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values in virus RNA copy number.

Study design: A plasmid carrying the CDC real-time RT-PCR target region of the influenza A Matrix (M) gene was generated. In a multicenter study, a set of 5 ten-fold dilutions (equivalent to 1 x 10(2) to 1 x 10(6) copies/reaction) were prepared and distributed to the 4 participating virology laboratories and then amplified to generate a virtual quantification standard curve. Clinical samples (n = 120) were quantified in parallel by interpolation with locally generated standard curves and using the VQT.

Results: A total of 40 standard curves were obtained by the participating centers (ten from each center). The intra-and inter-laboratory variability showed a coefficient of variation (CV) <= 5%. Influenza A virus quantification in 120 respiratory samples showed a significant correlation between interpolation with locally generated standard curves and the VQT (R-2 = 0.9655). Bland Altman analysis showed that the majority (no. 111, 92.5%) of clinical samples had < 0.5 log(10) variation.

Conclusions: VQT proofs the concept that qualitative results from real-time RT-PCR assays can be converted into quantitative determination of virus load in clinical samples without running standard curves in parallel.