CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION - NEWER METHODS FOR VIROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS

Recently developed methods have greatly increased the sensitivity and speed of virological diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection. Virus can be detected in infected cell cultures within 24 or 48 hours of specim en inoculation by using monoclonal antibodies to immediate-early antig ens in immunocytochemistry procedures or DNA sequences in hybridisatio n in situ assays. CMV antigens can also be detected directly in infect ed cells within clinical specimens. An early antigen can be visualized in nuclei of circulating leukocytes from viremic patients. DNA hybrid ization is used for CMV analysis in Dot-blot, Southern-blot and in sit u hybridization assays. DNA amplification, by polymerase chain reactio n (PCR), has proven to be a very sensitive method for diagnosis of CMV infection and should be useful for investigation of CMV pathogenesis and latency. Serologic assays such as ELISA and latex agglutination as says are accurate for screening donors and recipients of blood and org an or marrow graft. Studies of viral protein epitopes recognized by hu man sera are in progress.