Quantification of nucleic acids of enteric viruses in concentrated environmental samples

This method describes a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and two triplex quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) protocols for the quantitative detection of enteric viruses, namely norovirus GI and GII, sapovirus GI, hepatitis A and E viruses and human adenoviruses. The method is suitable for the detection of viruses in nucleic acid extracts of environmental samples. The assay also targets mengovirus that can be used as a quality control during sample processing prior to q(RT-)PCR. The method is suitable for screening nucleic acid extracts derived from difficult matrices (e.g. wastewater, river water, sediment, shellfish, faecal matter).