PCR AMPLIFICATION IS MORE SENSITIVE THAN TISSUE-CULTURE METHODS FOR EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS DETECTION IN CLINICAL MATERIAL

In this study we have compared the use of PCR and conventional tissue culture methods to detect Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and throat wash samples. The study population inclu ded 29 healthy adult and 20 immunocompromised EBV-seropositive donors. The results show significantly higher EBV detection rates by FCR than the tissue culture methods in throat wash samples from both donor gro ups (P < 0.01 in healthy donors and P < 0.009 in the immunocompromised donors) and in peripheral blood from the immunocompromised but not fr om the healthy donors (P < 0.008). Furthermore, when EBV DNA detection rates in throat wash cell pellet and supernatant fluid were compared, a higher positive result was obtained with the cell pellets which rea ched statistical significance in the immunocompromised group (P < 0.02 ). No correlation was found between positivity in throat wash and peri pheral blood from the same donors.