Molecular diagnosis of viral disease in hematology patients

Viruses, through their direct and indirect effects on hematopoietic cells, are not only etiological agents of hematologic disease, but they both complicate transfusion therapy and are major causes of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. The development of molecular techniques, especially DNA hybridization and amplification, has allowed new viruses to be discovered, has aided in the early diagnosis of infection before the development of an antibody response, and has revolutionized the detection of viruses in blood transfusions.