Figure 2.

Limit of detection for VZV. qPCR and RAA-LF were conducted to determine the detection threshold for VZV with a recombinant plasmid. A standard curve was established using the mean threshold (Cq) values of the plasmid dilutions ((A), dark blue dots) obtained by qPCR, showing detection of VZV in samples with as little as 5 copies/µL. The mean Cq values of the VZV samples ((A), red dots) were also plotted on the standard curve against the VZV plasmid, showing a nearly linear regression line. The RAA-LF assay exhibited results similar to that of qPCR (B), with the test band present in samples with an estimated copy number of 5 copies/µL, and the no-template control (NTC) displaying only the control band. Both qPCR and RAA-LF are thus highly sensitive methods in detecting VZV.