Direct detection of cytomegalovirus from bronchoalveolar lavage samples by using a rapid in situ DNA hybridization assay

An in situ DNA hybridization assay was compared with centrifugation culture for rapid detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples. Eighty BAL samples were inoculated into both centrifugation culture and standard culture. Cytospin preparations of the BAL samples were studied in a 75-min in situ DNA hybridization assay using the PathoGene CMV kit (Enzo Biochem, Inc., New York, N.Y.). Of the 80 samples, 39 (49%) were positive for CMV; 37 of 39 (95%) were positive by centrifugation culture, 34 of 39 (87%) were positive in standard culture, 24 of 39 (62%) were positive by in situ hybridization, and 20 of 39 (56%) were positive by histologic and/or immunofluorescence techniques. The in situ hybridization assay detected 23 of the 37 samples positive in centrifugation culture, for a sensitivity of 62% and a specificity of 98%. We conclude that the in situ hybridization assay is a specific and more rapid test than centrifugation culture and standard culture for diagnosis of CMV pulmonary infection. For the clinical laboratory, however, current hybridization methods are not sufficiently sensitive to replace centrifugation culture for detection of CMV in BAL specimens.