HCMV INFECTION DIAGNOSIS BY DETECTION OF VIRAL DNA BY PCR IN SERUM OF PLASMA

The diagnosis of active HCMV infection is largely based on virus or viral antigens detection ín peripheral blood leu¬cocytes. The amplification of HCMV DNA by PCR from PBLs has a questionable clinical value because it can detect al so non replícating virus. The diagnostic power of the detectíon of HCMV DNA dírectly in serum or plasma of patients with active HCMV infection by PCR amplification was studied. Three groups of patients vere studied: 29 newborns suspec¬ted of having an HCMV infection (52 samples); 21 orthoto¬pic liver transplant recipíents (83 samples); 24 AIDS pati ents with HCMV attributable symptoms (93 samples). PBLs se¬parated from heparinized blood vere tested in celi culture isolatíon, p72 víremia and pp65 antigenemia assays. Newborns urine specimens vere subjected to isolation test. The presence of HCMV DNA in serum or plasma was sought by PCR amplification employing nested primers derived from IE1 and gp58 regions. Positive results vere obtained by PCR in 8 out 8 congeni tal and in 1 out 2 perinatal infections. Three transplant patients vere PCR positive in the first 2 months post-tran splant. Ali AIDS patients turned positive in l or more pla sma specimens. The reasons of the inferíor results of the plasma samples, observed mainly in transplant patients, are being sought.