title: Comparison of MRC-5 and U-373MG astrocytoma cells for detection of cytomegalovirus in shell vial centrifugation cultures.
abstract: U-373MG astrocytoma cells are susceptible to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and offer the advantage of a continuous cell line for clinical laboratory use. U-373MG to MRC-5 cells for detection of CMV by centrifugation culture were therefore compared. At 20 h, 10 (6.1%) versus 12 (7.4%) of 163 clinical specimens were positive for CMV, and at 40 h, 12 (7.4%) versus 17 (10.4%) were positive in U-373MG and MRC-5 cells, respectively. Substantial toxicity was found in U-373MG cells (84%) when inoculated with blood specimens. For detection of CMV in centrifugation culture, MRC-5 cells are superior due both to higher sensitivity and lesser toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Program in Infectious Diseases, 1124 Columbia Street, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boeckh
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gleaves
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bindra
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Meyers
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000382:microbiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002498:Centrifugation; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D014776:Virus Cultivation