title: Comparison of the Artus RotorGene and COBAS Ampliprep/COBAS TaqMan Platforms for the Detection of Cytomegalovirus: Experience of a Tertiary Care Center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the Herpesviruses family. CMV infection rarely causes serious disease in otherwise healthy individuals, however, infection/reactivation among immunocompromised patients, including those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), can be critical and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The detection of CMV in blood using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods is the most sensitive and specific technique providing for a well-determined preemptive treatment cutoff.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study compares the performance of two new CMV qPCR platforms, COBAS(®) Ampliprep/COBAS(®) TaqMan(®) (Roche Molecular Diagnostics) and Artus RotorGene (QIAGEN).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 99 patients referred for CMV testing at AUBMC were tested using the Artus CMV RG PCR kit and the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan CMV kit as per the manufacturers' recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference between the two methods was within the allowable error for 97 out of 99 specimens (98%), with a correlation coefficient r = 0.80.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Artus CMV RG PCR Kit and the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan CMV kit are both acceptable assays that can be used for the sensitive detection and quantitation of CMV mainly in peripheral blood specimens.
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) , Beirut, Lebanon .
authors: Rouba
authors: R
authors: Hoteit
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) , Beirut, Lebanon .
authors: Puzant
authors: P
authors: Fermanian
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) , Beirut, Lebanon .
authors: Fatmeh
authors: F
authors: Abbas
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) , Beirut, Lebanon .
authors: Rabab
authors: R
authors: Abdel Khalek
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) , Beirut, Lebanon .
authors: Rami
authors: R
authors: Mahfouz
mesh_terms: D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic