Aseptic meningitis and encephalitis: The role of PCR in the diagnostic laboratory

In this study we have devised a simple and robust PCR strategy to detect a wide range of viruses, bacteria, and parasites, all of which are capable of causing aseptic meningitis and encephalitis, The techniques developed have been used in a routine diagnostic virology laboratory to test prospectively 2,233 cerebrospinal fluid specimens. A virus was detected in 147 specimens of cerebrospinal fluid from 143 patients, Four sets of primers were sufficient to detect the virus in 135 (94%) of the PCR-positive patients. We conclude that,vith appropriate primers, PCR can be systematically and economically applied to test for a range of organisms in a routine diagnostic laboratory. In our opinion, PCR will soon become the ''gold standard'' test for viral infections of the central nervous system.