Detection and quantification of a radiation-associated mitochondrial DNA deletion by a nested real-time PCR in human peripheral lymphocytes

► Radiation effect on mitochondrial DNA deletions. ► We designed nested real-time PCR to detect mt DNA deletions. ► A standard curve for nested real-time PCR was made. ► We examined 14 human blood samples. ► This technique is sensitive enough to detect deletions in mtDNA as low as 0.5 Gy at ionizing radiation doses.