title: Quantification of cytomegalovirus DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes by a branched-DNA signal amplification assay.
abstract: Quantification of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in blood may aid in the identification of patients at highest risk for developing CMV disease, the evaluation of new therapeutics, and the prompt recognition of drug-resistant CMV strains. A branched-DNA (bDNA) assay was developed for the reliable quantification of CMV DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes. The bDNA assay allowed for the highly specific and reproducible quantification of CMV DNA in clinical specimens. Furthermore, the bDNA assay was at least as sensitive as culture techniques and displayed a nearly 3 log10 dynamic range in quantification. Changes in CMV DNA levels measured by the bDNA assay in a human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient undergoing therapy were consistent with CMV culture, antigen, and genotype results and correlated with disease progression and resistance markers. The bDNA assay for the quantification of CMV DNA may provide a useful tool that can be used to aid physicians in monitoring disease progression, evaluating therapeutic regimens, and recognizing viral resistance and drug failure.
authors.affiliation: Chiron Diagnostics, Emeryville, California 94608-2916, USA. david_chernoff@cc.chiron.com
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Chernoff
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Miner
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Hoo
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kelso
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jekic-McMullen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lalezari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kolberg
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005838:Genotype; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000821:virology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D015774:Ganciclovir