Increased Ig-null B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of pediatric solid organ transplant recipients with elevated Epstein-Barr viral loads.

In this study, the characteristics of Ig-null B cells in high viral load carriers were examined by four-color flow cytometry. The frequency of Ig-null B cells in patients with high, low or undetectable virus loads was found that while patients with a high load had more Ig-null cells, these cells were also present in the low and undetectable load groups. As Ig-null cells from patients with no viral load were EBV-negative, EBV infection was not absolutely required for the generation or survival of Ig-null cells.

A comparison of quantitative-competitive and realtime PCR assays using an identical target sequence to detect Epstein-Barr virus viral load in the peripheral blood.

Monitoring the load of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the peripheral blood by quantitative PCR has been accepted as a useful tool for predicting the onset of EBV related diseases, confirming an EBV disease diagnosis and following the response to treatment interventions. In the present study, the use of a realtime polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) assay developed for unpurified cell preparations was examined and the results of the realtime assay were compared to an EBV quantitative-competitive PCR assay (QC-PCR). Both assays use the same target sequence and the same method for determining the standard value for the copy number of EBV genomes present.