Quality Assessment of Cytomegalovirus PCR Testing at an Academic Tertiary Referral Hospital

Abstract

BackgroundCytomegalovirus (CMV) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is a valuable tool for diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of CMV infection. Academic medical centers with a high volume of organ transplant and immunosuppressed patients often utilize CMV quantitative and qualitative PCR testing. CMV qualitative PCR typically does not alter clinical management, and positive CMV qualitative test often needs follow up quantitative test. Despite its lack of usefulness, CMV qualitative PCR is often over-ordered and may unnecessarily raise the cost of hospitalization. We evaluated utility of CMV PCR testing at a tertiary care medical center.MethodsWe reviewed CMV PCR testing done from June 2015-November 2016 at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. CMV qualitative test was performed at LabCorp and CMV quantitative test was done at Focus Labs. Data collected included demographics, length of stay, and immunosuppression. Selected patients had either CMV qualitative PCR positive without follow up quantitative PCR, or negative CMV qualitative PCR with unnecessary CMV quantitative PCR ordered.ResultsWe evaluated 226 CMV PCR test results including 162 qualitative and 64 quantitative CMV PCR in 139 patients. 39 (28%) patients had superfluous CMV testing. Mean age was 52.6 years, 61% were male, 46% were African American. Mean length of stay was 24 days. A half (N = 19,49%) were immunocompromised. 28 (17.2%) results were positive for CMV qualitative PCR, 7 (25%) of whom follow up CMV quantitative PCR were not sent. Thirty-two patients had negative CMV qualitative testing yet had CMV quantitative PCR sent. Six had redundant CMV quantitative PCR tests within 7 days likely resulting from delayed result report from send out. After performing cost analysis, these unnecessary tests would have saved $3930.ConclusionIn our cohort, significant unnecessary CMV testing resulted in increased health care cost and patient discomfort. Positive Qualitative CMV PCR without Quantitative testing impairs diagnosis and treatment follow up. Given complicated testing algorithm and limited value of CMV qualitative PCR testing in the adult population, we plan to simplify CMV testing to quantitative only and perform in house testing to shorten result time.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.