Comparison of real-time, and qualitative polymerase chain reaction assays in detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in clinical specimens

OBJECTIVE: To compare the real-time (RT), and qualitative (Q) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for detection of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA.

METHODS: The study took place in the Department of Microbiology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, and in Iontek Laboratory, Istanbul, Turkey, from August to December 2006. One hundred and seven clinical specimens from 67 patients were included in the study. Cytomegalovirus DNA was investigated using RT-PCR kit (Fluorion Iontek, Turkey) and Q-PCR kit (Fluorion Iontek, Turkey). Deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing was applied to the samples that yielded discrepant results in both assays. MacNemar's Chi Square test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Of the specimens, 27 were found positive with both assays; 9 with only RT-PCR, and 11 with only Q-PCR assay. Both assays were found negative in 60 of the specimens. There was a good agreement between the 2 assays in 87 (81.3%) of the specimens. There was no statistical significant difference between the assays (p>0.05). Two of the 11 samples that RT-PCR negative Q-PCR positive, and 3 of the 9 samples that RT-PCR positive Q-PCR negative were found to be CMV DNA positive by DNA sequencing.

CONCLUSION: A good level of concordance between RT-PCR and Q-PCR assays for CMV DNA detection has been found.