Comparison of the CMV Brite Turbo assay and the Digene Hybrid Capture CMV DNA (version 2.0) assay for quantitation of cytomegalovirus in renal transplant recipients

We compared the CMV Brite Turbo Kit (BT) and the Digene Hybrid Capture CMV DNA (version 2.0) assay (HC2) in the quantitation of pp65 antigenemia and c ytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA levels in immunosuppressed renal transplant recipi ents. Of 123 blood specimens collected from 24 renal transplant recipients, BT and HC2 assays detected 35 and 39 positive samples, respectively. The o verall concordance rate between the two assays was 90%. Discordant results were observed at low levels of viremia, so that 8 samples mere HC2 positive but BT negative and another 4 were BT positive but HC2 negative. There was good correlation (R-2 = 0.766; P < 0.01) between the levels of CMV DNA and pp65 antigenemia in the 31 concordant positive samples. Correlation betwee n results obtained with the two assays was confirmed by longitudinal studie s for a patient who developed clinical CMV disease, HC2 may be more sensiti ve at low viremia levels and allow earlier detection of impending CMV disea se. The BT assay offered the advantage of a rapid (2-h) turnaround time. We conclude that BT and HC2 assays have similar sensitivity and efficacy in t he diagnosis and monitoring of CMV infection and disease in renal transplan t recipients. While the HC2 assay would be appropriate for centers that han dle a large number of samples, the BT test may be more suitable for small s ample numbers or when results are needed urgently.