I do not have any first hand experience with the XMRV retrovirus, but here is a link to one of the XMRV testing (isolating) kits available. As you know, XMRV is suspected of being “a” cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The jury is still out, but many scientists and research companies are working franticly to get the correct answers. One such company, of course, is the WPI, Whittemore Peterson Institute.
Today, I’m bringing you data on Norgen Biotek Corp.’s Urine-Based XMRV RT-PCR Detection Kit. In reading this information, you will probably be able to see great possibilities in using it. You could get valuable information that you and your doctor could use! (Note: I have no history of using the test kit either, however, according to the website some people are choosing to get tested for the XMRV retrovirus by using this kit.)
This test is being heralded for its 1) isolation and detection of total RNA; 2) outstanding sensitivity, and 3) its high specificity for detection.
Isolation and Detection of Total RNA from 10 mL Urine Samples with no PCR Inhibition. Total RNA was isolated from two different 10 mL urine samples using Norgen’s Urine Total RNA Purification Maxi Kit (Slurry Format), which uses the same RNA isolation technology as the Urine-Based XMRV RT-PCR Detection Kit. The purified total RNA was then used as the template in an RT-qPCR reaction to detect the human miR-21 gene (Red line) and the human 5S gene (Blue line). Five microlitres of the isolated RNA was used as the template in the RT step, and 5 ?L from the RT step was used in the qPCR reaction. As it can be seen, the qPCR was able to successfully detect and amplify both the 5S gene and the the miR-21 gene in all cases, indicating the high quality of the isolated urine total RNA. The black line in the graph above corresponds to the No Template Control.
The Norgen Biotek website does not say that this test should be used by individuals, but it doesn’t discourage it either. If you have any questions, contact them via their email address, info@norgenbiotek.com or call them in Canada at Tel: (905) 227-8848.
Happy testing!
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
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