[Diagnostic Utilities of an Automated and Standardized DNA Quantification during Cytomegalovirus Monitoring]

The accurate and standardized diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is important for immunocom- promised patients. We prospectively evaluated the performance of an automated and standardized real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based DNA quantification for the detection of CMV. The results of PCR- based analysis were also compared with pp65 antigenemia (Ag) assay in the clinical records. The PCR- based analysis of 144 plasma samples from 26 patients with hematologic diseases detected CMV in 69 (48.0%) samples (range, <150-1.28 X 10⁴ copies/mL) while Ag detected CMV in 32(22.2%) samples (range, 1-37/50,000 cells). The number of concordant samples between the two tests was 95(66.0%). There were nine patients who had an Ag-positive period sandwiched by Ag-negative periods and, in all these patients, the Ag-positive period was completely covered by PCR-positive period. These results suggest that PCR can detect CMV more sensitively than Ag. The automated and standardized PCR for detection of CMV can support the appropriate management in patients with risks of CMV infection. [Original].