TABLE 1.

Representative effects of low viral titers on T_m values of HSV-specific probes

Sample no. (type)	Dilution	Copy no.a	Cp	Genotype	Tm	ΔTm
1 (CSF)	100	50,679	21.70	HSV-1	53.33	−0.90
	10−1	3,320	25.67	HSV-1	53.21	−1.02
	10−2	369	28.87	HSV-1	53.29	−0.94
	10−3	42	32.04	HSV-1	53.37	−0.86
	10−4	3	35.79	HSV-1	53.46	−0.77
2 (CSF)	100	27283	23.97	HSV-2	67.03	0.81
	10−1	2,775	27.54	HSV-2	66.47	0.25
	10−2	282	31.11	HSV-2	66.18	−0.04
	10−3	53	33.72	UKNb	65.70	−0.52
	10−4	3	38.57	UKN	61.52	−4.70c
3 (Genital, penis)	100	4,602	26.75	HSV-2	66.67	0.45
	10−1	423	30.48	HSV-2	66.40	0.18
	10−2	35	34.37	HSV-2	65.91	−0.31
	10−3	4	37.84	UKN	63.67	−2.55c
	10−4	1	>40.00	UKN	61.02	−5.20c
4 (Genital, vulva)	100	4,235	26.88	HSV-2	66.56	0.34
	10−1	386	30.62	HSV-2	66.16	−0.06
	10−2	46	33.95	UKN	65.77	−0.45
	10−3	9	36.48	UKN	63.01	−3.21c
5 (Oral, lip)	100	2,176	27.92	HSV-2	66.40	0.18
	10−1	323	30.90	HSV-2	66.10	−0.12
	10−2	56	33.63	UKN	65.69	−0.53
	10−3	1	>40.00	UKN	60.07	−6.15c
6 (Oral, tongue)	100	381	30.64	HSV-2	66.17	−0.05
	10−1	66	33.37	HSV-2	65.36	−0.86
	10−2	9	36.48	UKN	63.09	−3.13c

^aThe copy number was estimated in relation to the copy number on a standard curve generated with plasmid-borne controls.

^bUKN, unknown; the software was unable to genotype the specimens.

^cCompared to the T_m values for the HSV-1- or HSV-2-positive control, the ΔT_m values were above the acceptable variation (±2.5°C) recommended by the manufacturer.