Detection of Cytomegalovirus in Urine Dried on Filter Paper.

Urine is the best specimen for the diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus, but collection and processing of liquid urine are impractical for screening. Urine dried on filter paper was processed by the same convenient, low-cost method used by newborn screening to test blood spots and showed high sensitivity and specificity. To explore low cost, high-throughput methods to diagnose congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV), we processed CMV-positive urine dried on filter paper by the same method used for processing blood spots for newborn screening. The results showed high sensitivity and specificity. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society 2021.