Bioperfectus Monkeypox Virus Real Time PCR Kit

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name ‘monkeypox.’ In humans, the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. The main difference between the symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not. Transmission of monkeypox virus occurs when a person comes into contact with the virus from animals, humans, or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), respiratory tract, or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Laboratory tests that are used to diagnose monkeypox virus include detection of immunohistochemical testing, electron microscopy, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and virus isolation.

The Bioperfectus Monkeypox Virus Real Time PCR Kit is based on real-time PCR technology. Specific primers and probes are designed based on F3L gene areas of the Monkeypox virus. In addition, the kit also contains a housekeeping gene (RNase P) as an internal control (IC) for specimen sampling and nucleic acid extraction.