Quantification of Epstein-Barr virus-DNA load in lung transplant recipients: a comparison of plasma versus whole blood.
BACKGROUND
Monitoring of the Epstein-Barr virus-DNA load is frequently used to identify patients at risk for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Epstein-Barr virus DNA can be measured in the plasma and whole blood serum compartments.


METHODS
We compared levels of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in whole blood and plasma using a real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction assay in 100 consecutive paired whole blood and plasma samples from 25 lung and heart-lung transplant recipients with detectable whole blood Epstein-Barr virus-DNA load (>2,000 copies/ml).


RESULTS
A correlation (r2) of 0.58 (p < 0.001) was observed between both measurements, whereas of the positive whole blood samples (>2,000 copies/ml), only 17 samples (18%) were also positive in plasma.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that by virtue of its sensitivity, whole blood rather than plasma may be the preferable specimen for the detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in lung transplant recipients.
Bakker
Nicolaas A
NA
Department of Hematology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. n.a.bakker@int.umcg.nl
Verschuuren
Erik A
EA
Veeger
Nic J
NJ
van der Bij
Wim
W
van Imhoff
Gustaaf W
GW
Kallenberg
Cees G
CG
Hepkema
Bouke G
BG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral