Application of polymerase chain reaction to the detection of cytomegalovirus in bronchoalveolar lavage from lung transplant recipients

The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) of immunocompromised patients was evaluated. Firstly, PCR was compared to conventional cell culture (CCC) and shell vial assay (SVA) in 65 BAL received in our laboratory on a routine basis. Sensitivity and specificity of the PCR were 100% and 87.2% respectively. The PCR method was then applied to the monitoring of 55 BAL from nine lung transplant recipients. The data illustrate the excellent sensitivity of PCR. However the predictive value of the test for the occurrence of a symptomatic infection was weak.