Cytomegalovirus (CMV) PCR (Qualitative) - urine specimen
- LIS Mnemonic: CMVPCR
Collect
Random Urine Container
Volume Required
5-10 ml of clean voided urine
Minimum Required
5 ml of clean voided urine
Transport
Keep specimen at 4C
Processing
For infants, a volume of 1 to 2 ml of urine is acceptable. If an extended delay in transport of specimens is anticipated, rapidly freeze the specimens to at least -60°C and transport to the laboratory on dry ice. Please consult the laboratory if necessary.
Days Performed
Daily
Reported
Same day
Reflex Testing
N/A
CPT
87496
Methodology
Amplification and detection of CMV DNA polymerase gene using TaqMan real-time PCR technology. This test is performed pursuant to an agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
Interpretation
If positive, results are reported as cytomegalovirus DNA detected.
Reference Values
Negative or no cytomegalovirus DNA detected
Remarks
Clinical Utility: CMV infections are common and usually asymptomatic in otherwise healthy children and adults; however, the incidence and spectrum of disease in newborns and in immunocompromised hosts establish this virus as an important human pathogen. The detection of CMV DNA from urine, respiratory secretions, blood or other body fluids within the first 3 weeks of life is the traditional means of confirming the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection in newborns. PLEASE NOTE: When attempting to make a diagnosis of congenital CMV infection, infants not previously tested but found to be excreting virus after 3 weeks of age may have either congenital or acquired infection. Urine is the preferred specimen because it contains greater amounts of virus that can be readily detected. Detection of CMV DNA from maternal blood leukocytes and from amniotic fluid and fetal tissue by PCR may provide useful information for prenatal diagnosis of congenital CMV infection. While such prenatal testing is a sensitive indicator of maternal or fetal CMV infection, positive results do not predict which infants will have disease. CAUTION: In the evaluation of immunocompromised patients, detection of CMV in urine may be useful to monitor these patients for viral shedding, but finding CMV in the urine has limited utility for diagnosing disease since shedding of CMV in urine is common during asymptomatic infection and is usually not suggestive of more severe disease.
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