To address the need for new approaches to diagnose lymphoma and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), investigators have developed an assay based on nucleic acid measurement that has the potential to be delivered at the point of clinical care. It has demonstrated the ability to detect Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) from fine needle aspirations (FNA) and from tumor cells using the Tiny Isothermal Nucleic acid Amplification System (TINY) device, employing primers for EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBER). The method takes advantage of the now well-established finding that Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) is nearly entirely sensitive (though not specific) for the diagnosis of MCD.
