Comparison of plasma PCR and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid culture for detection of cytomegalovirus infection in adult bone marrow transplant recipients.

Plasma PCR for human cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was compared with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid culture as an indicator for disseminated CMV infection. Thirteen (32.5%) of 40 consecutive bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients were BAL fluid culture positive for CMV on day 35 post-BMT, and 9 (69%) of the 13 had positive plasma PCRs between days 28 and 49. Of the 27 with negative BAL fluid cultures, 2 (7%) had positive plasma PCRs (P < 0.001). Plasma CMV DNA in BMT recipients is a useful clinical marker for serious infection.