Influence of different extraction methods and PCR techniques on the sensitivity of HCMV-DNA detection in dried blood spot (DBS) filter cards.
BACKGROUND
Infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common congenital virus infection, affecting about 0.5-2% of newborns. Using DBS on Guthrie cards, it is possible to discriminate congenital from postnatal HCMV-infection. However, a recent European trial revealed serious problems in detection of low HCMV-DNA levels from DBS-filter-cards (Barbi et al., 2008).(7)


OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the most sensitive combination of sample size, DNA extraction method and PCR system for the detection of low copy numbers of HCMV-DNA from DBS-filter-cards.


METHODS
We compared three different manual extraction methods for the detection of HCMV-DNA out of DBS: the QIAmp-blood-Mini-Kit, a heat-extraction-method and traditional phenol-chloroform extraction. Additionally, we tested an automated nucleic acid extraction system (NucliSense EasyMag/Biomerieux). Different punch-sizes of DBS spiked with defined HCMV AD169-DNA copy numbers were analyzed. For detection, we used a quantitative in-house-LightCycler-PCR targeting the gB-region using the hybridisation-probe-format. We compared the sensitivity of the real-time-PCR with IE1Ex4-targeted nested-PCR.


RESULTS
The highest sensitivity with 200 copies HCMV DNA/ml was achieved using the phenol-chloroform method in combination with the nested-PCR and 6mm, 3x3mm punches or the whole DBS. The QIAmp-blood-Mini-Kit also showed a very high sensitivity by using the whole DBS and the nested-PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
These results may have strong implications for retrospective diagnosis of congenital HCMV (cHCMV) infection, since a defined combination of the area of punch, the extraction method, and PCR method determine the probability of detection of viral DNA from DBS according to a logistic model.
Göhring
Katharina
K
Institute of Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, Consiliary Laboratory for Congenital CMV Infection of the Robert-Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Dietz
Klaus
K
Hartleif
Steffen
S
Jahn
Gerhard
G
Hamprecht
Klaus
K
D001331:Automation; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003890:Desiccation; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic