Use of a molecular probe for detecting JCV DNA directly in human brain material.

A hybridot assay using a radiolabelled JC virus probe has been used to detect the presence of JCV DNA in brain biopsy and postmortem brain samples from patients with neurological disease and possible progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy. Sixty-nine brain samples from 45 patients were examined. Eleven samples from eight patients had detectable JCV DNA sequences. In seven of the eight patients this result was confirmed by electron microscopy and/or virus isolation or immunofluorescence.