121. Adenovirus Titers Determined by Quantitative Real-Time PCR Correlate with Infectious Titers

The accurate determination of adenovirus titers is crucial because as little as a three-fold difference in the amount of virus administered can dramatically affect the outcome of an experiment, especially when high doses are used in animal models. The plaque assay is the standard method for determination of infectious titers, while physical titers (infectious plus non-infectious virus) are typically determined by optical absorbance at 260 nm. Although the plaque assay is a well-established method, there can be considerable variability in titers depending on the cell line used, the passage of the cells, the researcher performing the assay, and the laboratory protocol.