Differentiating Inherited Human Herpesvirus Type 6 Genome from Primary Human Herpesvirus Type 6 Infection by Means of Dried Blood Spot from the Newborn Screening Card

Abstract

To differentiate active human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) infection from inherited HHV-6 (iHHV-6), we analyzed dried blood spots from archived newborn screening cards in 3 patients with high HHV-6 DNA copy numbers. Two patients were positive for HHV-6 DNA as neonates suggesting iHHV-6. In 1 patient, the absence of HHV-6 DNA excluded iHHV-6.