The effectiveness of ELISA and PCR techniques for detecting cytomegalovirus DNA in blood donors

Abstract EN

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most significant causes of transfusion- associated morbidity and mortality.

The infection with this virus may be asymptomatic and remain latent.

Serological screening of blood components may reduce the prevalence of transfusion- transmitted CMV (TT-CMV) infection, but still cases of TT-CMV infection in immuno- compromised patients are reported.

This study was designed to investigate the sensitivity of PCR technique compared to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of CMV in sera samples among blood donors in Erbil city.

Serum from 465 voluntary blood donors were screened for specific anti-CMV IgG and IgM by ELISA.

Fifty samples of them were selected to be tested more by PCR; 25 with positive and 25 negative for IgG anti-CMV antibodies.

Out of the 465 sera samples taken from blood donors, 148 (31.827%) were positive for IgG anti-CMV antibodies and negative for anti- CMV IgM antibodies.

CMV- DNA was detected in (92%) of anti CMV IgG positive, while DNA CMV in anti–CMV IgG negative samples was (64%) (p=o.ooo).

It is the time for PCR to substitute ELISA for screening of CMV in blood donors.

Detection of CMV in blood donors will reduce the spread of this infection which is a big burden on the health practice.