Simultaneous and rapid detection method for measles and rubella using single-tube multiplex real-time quantitative RT-PCR

Patients with measles or rubella infections manifest acute onset fever accompanying systemic exanthema, which are clinically difficult to be distinguish. Rapid diagnosis and differentiation of such epidemic viral diseases is essential to prevent outbreaks. We developed a single-tube multiplex real-time PCR assay for these indistinguishable viruses. We used previously-reported primer settings, with a slight modification of reporter dye, and applied to multiplex Taqman real-time PCR by cobas z480 (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.). Consequently, the assay could detect 10 copies/10 μl of measles and rubella with coefficient of variations of 11.2% and 21.8%, respectively. Strengths of our methodology include simplicity of operation, short measurement time (2 h), uses of internal control (confirming a run of PCR), and quantitative measurement with high sensitivity. Both measles and rubella currently cause social outbreaks in Japan. We hope that our single-tube multiplex assay contributes to an early diagnosis, leading to an appropriate infection control measure and prevention of epidemics.