Abstract

A simplified hybridization procedure was used for detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in human specimens. The probe was a 32P-labelled cloned DNA fragment of CMV strain AD169. This probe did not hybridize to DNA from uninfected cells or other herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus). Specific hybridization was obtained with unselected bronchoalveolar lavage specimens, but the sensitivity of the test (33%) was lower than that of culture (80%) and immunofluorescence (60%) assays which are routinely performed in our laboratory. The detection procedure was also carried out with pharynx biopsy specimens which had been kept frozen at -70 degrees C. CMV DNA was detected in 14% of tumour specimens and only in 1.7% of control specimens (p less than 0.05). The indications of DNA hybridization for CMV diagnosis are discussed.

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