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Comparative Study
. 2008 Jan;27(1):7-10.
doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2007.10.008.

Quantification of Epstein-Barr virus-DNA load in lung transplant recipients: a comparison of plasma versus whole blood

Nicolaas A Bakker  1 , Erik A Verschuuren, Nic J Veeger, Wim van der Bij, Gustaaf W van Imhoff, Cees G Kallenberg, Bouke G Hepkema
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Quantification of Epstein-Barr virus-DNA load in lung transplant recipients: a comparison of plasma versus whole blood

Nicolaas A Bakker et al. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2008 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Monitoring of the Epstein-Barr virus-DNA load is frequently used to identify patients at risk for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Epstein-Barr virus DNA can be measured in the plasma and whole blood serum compartments.

Methods: We compared levels of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in whole blood and plasma using a real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction assay in 100 consecutive paired whole blood and plasma samples from 25 lung and heart-lung transplant recipients with detectable whole blood Epstein-Barr virus-DNA load (>2,000 copies/ml).

Results: A correlation (r2) of 0.58 (p < 0.001) was observed between both measurements, whereas of the positive whole blood samples (>2,000 copies/ml), only 17 samples (18%) were also positive in plasma.

Conclusion: These results indicate that by virtue of its sensitivity, whole blood rather than plasma may be the preferable specimen for the detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in lung transplant recipients.

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