Identification of Human Cytomegalovirus by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Compared with Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Volume 17 , Issue 2 , June 2015 , Pages 191-200

Authors

¹ Faculty of Science, Department of Biology University of Sulaimani, KRG, Iraq

The main aim of this study is to identify human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)

among suspected patient in Sulaimani city by using PCR technique The serological tests

are currently the only methods widely available in our country. However, newer methods

e.g.: (PCR) for (HCMV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) amplification can diagnose

HCMV disease in its very early stage. Thirty-six sera samples of patients who were

suspected by physician were collected at Sulaimani Public Health Laboratory from 13

July to 24 August of 2008. The study for the detection of HCMV DNA was carried out,

in Kurdistan Technology and Scientific Research. The study shows that (24) cases out of

36 (66.67%) were positive by PCR. In the male group there were 7 (63.636%) positive

cases from the total of 11 samples and in the female group 17 (68%) out of 25 samples

were positive. In the abortion group there were 13 (68.421%) positive case from a total

of 19 samples. In suspected immunocompromised group from the total of 12 samples,

HCMV DNA was detected in 7 (58.33%), and in the other cases 4 (80%) out of 5

samples were seropositive. The sensitivity and specificity of serological tests for CMV

IgM using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was 29.16 and 100%, while

the sensitivity and specificity of serological test for CMV IgG was 70.83 and 25%

respectively. This study confirms the results of the previous studies in that PCR can be

considered as gold standard.

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