Foscarnet sodium (Phosphonoformate) is an antiviral agent used in the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis. Foscarnet also shows activity against human herpesviruses and HIV.

Reverse transcriptase assays: Reverse transcriptase assays are carried out in a reaction mixture (50 μL) containing 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mM DTT, 100 mM potassium chloride, 0.01% Triton X-100 or NP40, 10 μg/ml (dT)15.(A)n as template primer and [3H] deoxythymidine triphospahate. The reaction mixture is incubated for 1 hr at 37 ℃ and stopped by the addition of 50 μg of yeast tRNA and 2 mL of 10% solution of trichloroacetic acid containing 1 mM sodium pyrophosphate. The samples are filtered on filters (0.45 μm), washed first with 5% TCA solution for 5 times and then with 2 ml of 70% ethanol. The filters are dried, scintillation fluid is added and the radioactivity counted in a counter.

CAL-62 cells are placed on 96 well plates at 8×103 cells/well in 100 μL DMEM for 24 h. Then medium is replaced by fresh DMEM with or without foscarnet. After 48 h of incubation, 20 μL of CellTiter 96AQ solution is added to the cells and incubated for 2-4 h. The quantity of formazan product as measured by the absorbance at 492 nm.(Only for Reference)

H2O: 3 mg/mL (15.63 mM), Sonication is recommended.

DMSO: < 1 mg/mL (insoluble or slightly soluble)

Ethanol: < 1 mg/mL (insoluble or slightly soluble)