Clinical validation of an in-house quantitative real time PCR assay for cytomegalovirus infection using the 1st WHO International Standard in kidney transplant patients.

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common agents of infection in solid organ transplant patients, with significant morbidity and mortality.

Objective: This study aimed to establish a threshold for initiation of preemptive treatment. In addition, the study compared the performance of antigenemia with qPCR results.

Cost minimization analysis of an in-house molecular test for cytomegalovirus in relation to a commercial molecular system.

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus may cause severe disease in immunocompromised patients. Nowadays, quantitative polymerase chain reaction is the gold-standard for both diagnosis and monitoring of cytomegalovirus infection. Most of these assays use cytomegalovirus automated molecular kits which are expensive and therefore not an option for small laboratories, particularly in the developing world.