title: Cytomegalovirus detection by biotinylated DNA probes.
abstract: Clinical specimens from 317 patients suspected of cytomegalovirus infection were examined by immunofluorescence (IF) using monoclonal antibodies and by a biotinylated DNA probe kit after cell culture isolation. Of the 317 samples, 68 were positive by culture isolation. Of these 67 were IF positive when the cytopathic effect (CPE) was 1+ or less, whereas 56 gave positive results with DNA probes when the CPE was 2+. A further 83 specimens were examined directly by immunoperoxidase histopathology (IHP), IF and the DNA probe kit: 26 of these were positive by IHP examination, 25 by IF and only 6 by DNA probes. The sensitivity of the DNA probe kit was not satisfactory when the clinical tissue specimens were directly examined. However, the sensitivity improved considerably to 82% if the specimens were propagated first in cell culture. The IF method detected the virus before and after cell culture isolation equally well (96%-98.5%). Compared to the IF method, the DNA probe kit is costly and requires more labor and time.
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Qadri
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Al-Ahdal
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Qadri
authors.forename: G Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001710:Biotin; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D015342:DNA Probes; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015342:DNA Probes; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D001710:Biotin