Low-volume multiplex solid-phase PCR without DNA extraction for etiological diagnosis of infectious uveitis.

StudyDiagnosisQ2IF 1.6

Direct-strip polymerase chain reaction testing changed the presumed uveitis diagnosis in 17.5% of cases.

Eduardo Ferracioli-Oda … Joyce Hisae Yamamoto

Indian journal of ophthalmology · Feb 2026 · Q2 in Ophthalmology

Purpose

To evaluate the usefulness of a low-volume multiplex direct polymerase chain reaction (polymerase chain reaction) in identifying pathogens in intraocular fluid in infectious uveitis.

Methods

Prospective interventional non-comparative study.

n = 57 participants

Results

17.5%

testing extra pathogens (herpesviruses, syphilis, toxoplasma) corrected the suspected cause more often

n = 57 participants

More results

Polymerase chain reaction positivity was 35.1%, with detection of herpesviruses [Epstein-Barr virus (Epstein-Barr virus), n = 3; cytomegalovirus, n = 2; human herpesvirus 6, n = 2; human herpes virus 1, human herpesvirus 2, varicella zoster virus (varicella zoster virus), n = 1 for each], T. gondii (n = 9), and T. pallidum and HTLV-I/II in one sample each.

More results

All Epstein-Barr virus-positive cases had another primary diagnosis (toxoplasmosis or varicella zoster virus retinitis).

Four presumed herpetic infectious uveitis cases turned out to be non-infectious uveitis, including one intraocular lymphoma diagnosis.

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Conclusion

Direct-strip polymerase chain reaction may contribute to identifying the etiology of infectious uveitis by using limited sample volumes, no DNA extraction step, with rapid results and testing simultaneously for multiple pathogens.