TABLE 2.

Detection limits of HSV-2 by real-time PCR compared to those of nested PCR

No. of copies per reaction	No. of patients positive for HSV-2/total no. of patients (%)
	Real-time PCR	Nested PCR
HSV-2 DNA standard
1,100-6,000	16/6	2/2
110-600	9/9	8/8
55-60	9/9	3/3
15-30	3/3	NDa
2.5-12	6/12 (50)	1/8 (12)
HSV-2 in CSF
110-600	6/6	6/6
55-60	4/4	3/4
15-30	3/4	1/4
2.5-12	1/4	0/4

^aND, not done.