A PROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC-TECHNIQUES FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN LIVER-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Forty-one consecutive liver transplant recipients were studied by poly merase chain reaction (PCR) of serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and viral blood culture for symptomatic cytomegalovirus (CMV) i nfection, The techniques were also used to predict the occurrence of C MV infection, For diagnosis of symptomatic CMV infection, the sensitiv ity and specificity of the different techniques were as follows: PCR o f serum, 100% and 45%; RT-PCR, 25% and 97%; PCR of peripheral blood mo nonuclear cells, 83% and 35%; and blood culture, 83% and 86%, respecti vely, PCR of serum was positive in 83% of subjects with symptomatic in fection before onset compared with 17% positive by blood culture, Whil e viral blood culture was the best technique for the diagnosis of symp tomatic CMV infection, PCR of serum was best at predicting the develop ment of symptomatic CMV infection.