Table 3 Diagnostic methods of CMV, advantages, and disadvantages

Anti-CMV immunoglobulins

Might be used for screening for latent CMV infection

Low sensitivity and specificity for active infection

CMV PCR assays

High sensitivity and specificity and considered gold standard, quick easy to perform, gives information of viral load, can be used for wide variety of samples

Better to be performed on whole blood, qualitative might be so sensitive and detect “innocent viral shedding” quantitative might be superior

CMV antigen assays

Quick and easy to perform, has comparable sensitivity and specificity to PCR

Might be inferior to PCR in case of leukopenia

Viral culture

Highly specific, can be performed on wide variety of samples

Time-consuming, low sensitivity

Histopathology

Highly specific, confirm CMV disease and pathogenicity and invasiveness

Invasive, low sensitivity, liable to sampling error, needs skilled pathologist and so operator dependent