Abstract
Primary human cytomegalovirus infection and the viral reactivation from latency are major complications in organ transplant recipients. In the peripheral blood the replicating virus can be detected either by nucleic acid based tests or by demonstrating the HCMV structural proteins in antigenemia test. We developed a quantitative competitive PCR method to assess the HCMV load in the peripheral blood. The viral load in nine healthy blood donors and in four renal transplant recipients with negative antigenemia test was in the same range: 5-124 (median: 18) HCMV copies/10(6) beta-globin copies for healthy blood donors and 16-48 (median: 37) HCMV copies/10(6) beta-globin copies for the transplant recipients. Three antigenemia positive renal transplant recipients had a HCMV load of 2.2 x 10(5)/10(6) beta-globin, 1.5 x 10(4)/10(6) beta-globin and 6.5 x 10(3)/10(6) beta-globin, respectively. In conclusion, the quantitative measurement of HCMV load in the peripheral blood correlated well with the routine HCMV antigenemia test. The DNA-based test, however can detect earlier the reactivation of the HCMV infection.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
