Detection of cytomegalovirus from clinical specimens in centrifugation culture by in situ DNA hybridization and monoclonal antibody staining.

An in situ DNA hybridization kit for cytomegalovirus (CMV) was evaluated for the detection of CMV in centrifugation culture. Of 61 clinical specimens, 17 (27.8%) were positive for CMV by monoclonal antibody staining following centrifugation. Of the 17 positive specimens, 15 were detected by DNA hybridization (24.5%). However, the earliest that CMV could be detected by DNA hybridization was 58 h as compared with 16 h with monoclonal antibodies following centrifugation. DNA hybridization remains of great interest for the study and detection of CMV infection. However, current DNA hybridization techniques are not sufficiently rapid to replace the use of monoclonal antibodies in centrifugation culture.