Real-time RT-PCR for the Detection of Chikungunya Virus

Stanford virologists have developed a quantitative and sensitive assay to detect chikungunya virus (CHIKV). In addition, it may be multiplexed with assays for other pathogens to detect and differentiate CHIKV infection. CHIKV infection presents with symptoms similar to other viral infections, including dengue virus infection. Accurate differentiation and diagnosis of infection is important to ensure proper clinical care and treatment. Molecular tests have been developed to diagnose dengue or CHIKV in the acute setting, but the available tests require performance of several separate PCR reactions and do not detect and differentiate CHIKV from other agents. This can result in misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions. To overcome these limitations, the inventors have developed this real-time RT-PCR assay which provides sensitive and quantitative detection of CHIKV. In addition, this test can be multiplexed with other assays developed by the inventors to provide a single reaction test that can detect and differentiate a variety of pathogens including dengue, Zika, Leptospira, and Plasmodium species. This test can improve detection and differentiation of pathogens that have similar clinical presentation, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and ensuring proper clinical care.

Stage of research
The inventors have validated the assay using 182 clinical samples from Nicaragua.

Related technology
The inventors have also developed an assay to detect Zika virus (see Stanford Docket S15-234).

In addition, the researchers have developed an assay to detect Dengue virus that works in combination with the assay to detect CHIKV. The Dengue virus assay, however, is not currently available for licensing.