Design and Evaluation of New Light-Upon-Extension (Lux) Real-Time PCR Primer System for Detection of Polyomavirus Hominis 2 (JC Virus) in Clinical Samples

We describe the design, optimization and application of highly effective primer systems for detection of Polyomavirus hominis 2 (JCV) using Light Upon Extension (LUX) Real-time PCR. Our results confirm the high specificity and also the rapidity and noninvasiveness of the method for demonstration of ongoing viral replication. We believe that the LUX technology is comparable to the probe based real-time PCR assays for detection of human viruses, such as TaqMan, but has an advantage in terms of costeffectiveness, convenience and the possibility for a subsequent dissociation analysis.