title: Correlation of urine pH with the detection of cytomegalovirus by the shell vial technique.
abstract: The influence of the pH of urine on the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) by the shell vial assay was evaluated. The pH values of 295 urine specimens ranged from 4.7 to 8.5 (mean 6.3) and were not significantly different in culture-positive versus culture-negative samples. None of the urine specimens appeared to be toxic for the cells used in the shell vial assay. We recommend inoculation of urine specimens into shell vials without adjustment of pH.
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ilstrup
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008828:Microbiological Techniques