Infectious Disease CMV Quantitative PCR

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a significant cause of graft injury and rejection in solid organ transplant recipients and life-threatening interstitial pneumonitis in bone marrow transplant recipients.  In otherwise immunocompromised patients it is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality such as CMV retinitis or CMV encephalitis.  Viral load determination by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows for early detection and surveillance of high risk patients, as well as monitoring of efficacy of therapy.

Clinical Utility:
Viral load determination allows detection of active versus latent infection and aid in decisions on pre-emptive treatment of symptomatic CMV infection.  Viral load determination is also useful for monitoring of treatment efficacy and detection of drug resistance.

We have a developed a method using The LightCycler (LC) PCR thermalcycler for accurate detection and genotyping of samples derived from plasma.  Following DNA extraction, PCR amplification and genotyping via melting curve analysis are accomplished by using specific amplification primers and probes.

Reportable Range:
200-5,000,000,000 International Units/ml
Detection Limit: At or below 200 IU/mL

• 5-10 mL of blood in purple (EDTA) tube.  Specimen must be centrifuged and separated within 6 hours.
• Freeze plasma for transport to lab. 
• Minimum Plasma required is 1mL.
• Pediatric Minimum is 200µL of plasma.
• Contact Client Services for shipping materials and procedures at (855) 535-1522.

A REQUISITION FORM MUST ACCOMPANY ALL SAMPLES. Please include detailed clinical information.

Daily (Monday-Friday)

1 - 3 days

• Package and ship specimen on dry ice. 
• Ship via overnight express, using the FedEx priority overnight label provided. 
• Contact Client Services at (855) 535-1522 for shipping kits and instructions.

1. Einsele H., et al. Polymerase Chain Reaction Monitoring Reduces the Incidence of Cytomegalovirus Disease and the Duration and side Effects of Antiviral Therapy after Bone Marrow Transplantation. Blood 86, 2815-2820, 1995.
2. Nolte FS., et al. Early Detection of Human Cytomegalovirus Viremia in Bone Marrow Transplant Recipients by DNA Amplification. J Clin Micro 33, 1263-1266, 1995.
3. Hong KM., et al. Quantitative Real-Time PCR with Automated Sample Preparation for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Cytomegalovrius Infection in Bone Marrow Transplant Patients. Clinical Chemistry 50, 846-56, 2004.