abstract |
It was possible to increase substantially the sensitivity of detection of influenza A virus by carrying out a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using oligonucleotide sequences (amplimers) from the relatively conserved region of the viral hemagglutinin gene, preceded by reverse transcription (RT). The reverse transcription and the PCR are insensitive to single mutations by base exchange in this case, as long as the 3' end of the amplimer is not affected. |