Detection of EBV DNA

Amplicons of DNA from patient samples (serum or saliva) before therapy were checked by separating the DNA fragments with horizontal electrophoresis using 2% agarose gel with 1 mg/mL ethidium bromide in the buffer of Tris-acetate-EDTA (TAE) 1x. Into each well, a suspension was added consisting of 10 mL EBV DNA and 3 mL loading buffer (0.25% bromophenol blue, xylene cyanole, 4% sucrose) and separated by electrophoresis at 90 V for up to 60 minutes. As a marker, a DNA ladder of 100 bp was used. The DNA fragments separated by electrophoresis were detected using a UV illuminator and a 125 bp band of EBV DNA was considered positive result. The DNA bands were recorded on Polaroid film.