A Multiplex qPCR to Differentiate Monkeypox Virus Clades

Christopher T. Williams; Alessandra Romero-Ramirez; Adesola Semiu Adeleye; Samuel Oluwafunmbi Ifabumuyi; Caitlin Greenland-Bews; Susan Gould; Dominic Wooding; Collette E. Allen; Anushri Somasundaran; Nicodemus Nnabuike Mkpuma; Dorcas A. Gado; Jolly Amoche Adole; Abdulakeem Eniola Amoo; Abisola Ajoke Adeyemi; Laure Bosquillon de Jarcy; Christine Goffinet; Dr Jake Dunning; Malcolm Gracie Semple; The International Severe Acute Respiratory; Esto Bahizire; Afolabi M. Akinpelu; Tom E. Fletcher; Ana I. Cubas-Atienzar; Cristina Leggio; Adeyinka Jeremy Adedeji; Adesuyi Ayodeji Omoare; Thomas Edwards

doi:10.3201/eid3202.250686

Genetic & Genomic MedicineEmerging infectious diseasesFeb 1, 2026

Peer-reviewed journal article

A Multiplex qPCR to Differentiate Monkeypox Virus Clades

Christopher T. Williams iD, Alessandra Romero-Ramirez iD, Adesola Semiu Adeleye, Samuel Oluwafunmbi Ifabumuyi, Caitlin Greenland-Bews iD, Susan Gould iD, Dominic Wooding iD, Collette E. Allen, Anushri Somasundaran iD, Nicodemus Nnabuike Mkpuma iD, Dorcas A. Gado iD, Jolly Amoche Adole iD, Abdulakeem Eniola Amoo, Abisola Ajoke Adeyemi, Laure Bosquillon de Jarcy iD, Christine Goffinet iD, Dr Jake Dunning, Malcolm Gracie Semple iD, The International Severe Acute Respiratory, Esto Bahizire iD, Afolabi M. Akinpelu iD, Tom E. Fletcher iD, Ana I. Cubas-Atienzar iD, Cristina Leggio, Adeyinka Jeremy Adedeji iD, , Thomas Edwards iD

Abstract

We designed a multiplex qPCR to differentiate monkeypox virus clades. In evaluations using clinical samples collected in the UK and Nigeria, the assay had an overall sensitivity of 78% (95% CI: 67.67% to 86.14%) and specificity of 94% (95% CI: 80.84% to 99.30%); for samples under Ct35 sensitivity was 98% (95% CI: 91.72% to 99.96%) and specificity was 94% (95% CI: 80.84% to 99.30%).

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