Measurement of Epstein-Barr virus DNA loads in whole blood and plasma by TaqMan PCR and in peripheral blood lymphocytes by competitive PCR.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA load values were measured in samples of whole blood (n = 60) and plasma (n = 59) by TaqMan PCR and in samples of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) (n = 60) by competitive PCR (cPCR). The samples were obtained from 44 transplant recipients. The whole-blood and PBL loads correlated highly (r(2) > 0.900), whereas the plasma and PBL loads correlated poorly (r(2) = 0.512). Testing of whole blood by TaqMan PCR is an acceptable alternative to testing of PBLs by cPCR for quantifying EBV DNA load.
Wadowsky
Robert M
RM
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. Robert.Wadowsky@chp.edu
Laus
Stella
S
Green
Michael
M
Webber
Steven A
SA
Rowe
David
D
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral