LONG-TERM PREDICTIVE VALUE OF A SINGLE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) DNA PCR ASSAY FOR CMV DISEASE IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED PATIENTS

Universal prophylaxis with oral ganciclovir is not cost-effective for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in human immunodeficie ncy virus infection. For a preemptive strategy to be considered, patie nts at highest risk for CMV disease need to be easily and accurately i dentified. In this study, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predi ctive value, and negative predictive value of a single CMV DNA PCR ass ay fdr;the subsequent development of CMV disease were 0.75, 0.89, 0.75 , and 0.89, respectively.