title: Comparison of quantitation of cytomegalovirus DNA by real-time PCR in whole blood with the cytomegalovirus antigenemia assay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quantitation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA using real-time PCR has been utilized for monitoring CMV infection. However, the CMV antigenemia assay is still the 'gold standard' assay. There are only a few studies in Korea that compared the efficacy of use of real-time PCR for quantitation of CMV DNA in whole blood with the antigenemia assay, and most of these studies have been limited to transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  479 whole blood samples from 79 patients, falling under different disease groups, were tested by real-time CMV DNA PCR using the Q-CMV real-time complete kit (Nanogen Advanced Diagnostic S.r.L., Italy) and CMV antigenemia assay (CINA Kit, ArgeneBiosoft, France), and the results were compared. Repeatedly tested patients were selected and their charts were reviewed for ganciclovir therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concordance rate of the two assays was 86.4% (Cohen's kappa coefficient value=0.659). Quantitative correlation between the two assays was a moderate (r=0.5504, P<0.0001). Among 20 patients tested repeatedly with the two assays, 13 patients were transplant recipients and treated with ganciclovir. Before treatment, CMV was detected earlier by real-time CMV DNA PCR than the antigenemia assay, with a median difference of 8 days. After treatment, the antigenemia assay achieved negative results earlier than real-time CMV DNA PCR with a median difference of 10.5 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Q-CMV real-time complete kit is a useful tool for early detection of CMV infection in whole blood samples in transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seonhee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Kyeung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Kyu
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yunjung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C065418:cytomegalovirus matrix protein 65kDa; D015774:Ganciclovir
keywords: Antigenemia assay; Cytomegalovirus; Real-time PCR