Sensitivity curves for three HHV-8 PCR assays using primers from different regions of the genome followed by Southern hybridization with specific internal probes. Jurkat cell DNA (J; 2 μg/reaction) was inoculated with a known copy number of BCP-1 HHV-8 DNA starting at 3 million (M) to 0.3 genome copies along with amplification of BCBL-1, another HHV-8–containing cell line. Jurkat cell DNA as well as water (H2O) were simultaneously amplified. Non-nested amplification in the orf 26 and orf 72 region were able to detect 30 genome copies per reaction. With longer exposure, 3 genome copies could be reproducibly detected without nesting using the orf 26 primers. Nested amplification in the orf 75 region could reproducibly detect 3 genome copies per reaction.
