Use of TaqStart Antibody to Increase the Sensitivity of Herpesvirus Quantitative PCR on the LightCycler

Human viral load monitoring needs to be accurate and sensitive. Quantitative PCR assays are therefore useful. The development of real-time quantitative PCR on the LightCycler combines speed and accuracy. However, during PCR, non-specific amplification may compete with formation of specific products, leading to a reduced PCR efficiency and lower sensitivity. In this study, we demonstrate that an anti-Taq DNA polymerase antibody (TaqStart Antibody, Clontech) avoids the formation of primer-dimers and non-specific products in LightCycler PCR and improves the sensitivity of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Human Herpesvirus type 8 (HHV8) DNA quantification.