Cytomegalovirus diagnosis in immunocompromised patients: detection of early viral protein and viral nucleic acids in shell vial culture
Cathomas, G.; Bienz, K.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 119(3): 75-80
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 2540523 Document Number: 343527
Conventional cell culture often requires several weeks for the detection of cytomegalovirus and is therefore an inappropriate technique for the rapid diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infections. Serology is not useful in the immunocompromised patient. We describe our experience with a rapid method for the detection of cytomegalovirus in known positive materials and in clinical specimens from immunocompromised patients. For this procedure the specimens were centrifuged onto cell monolayers. One day after infection early protein was detected by immunofluorescence, and in duplicate cultures viral DNA was detected by in situ hybridization after 5 days. Cytomegalovirus was found most often in urine and bronchoalveolar lavage, but less frequently (and to a lesser extent) in blood and saliva. No virus was found in stool and CSF. Cytomegalovirus was diagnosed only in 51.4% by the detection of early protein, whereas in situ hybridization detected cytomegalovirus in 93.1% of the specimens. For the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus we recommend the shell vial cell culture technique, followed by the detection of early proteins after 24 hours and in situ hybridization after 5 days.