Skip to main content

Table 1 Common methods used in diagnosis of viral infections after transplantation

From: Diagnosis and treatment of viral diseases in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Methods

Sensitivity *

Specificity#

Time§

Virus

Comments

Culture

+++

++++

+

HSV, CMV, VZV, Influenza virus, RSV, PIV, adenovirus

Gold standard

May take weeks before results return

Shell vial culture

++

+++

++

HSV, CMV, VZV, Influenza virus, RSV, PIV, adenovirus

Reduce the testing time compared with culture

Antigen detection

++

++++

++++

Most CARVs, herpesviruses, adenovirus

Quick results

Poor sensitivity

PCR

++++

+++

+++

All are possible

Quick results

High sensitivity

Histopathology and immunohistochemistry

NA

NA

NA

All are possible

Detect viruses in tissue

Electron microscopy

++

NA

++++

All are possible

Require facility and experienced staff

Serology

NA

NA

NA

NA

Less helpful in diagnosis

  1. * “+” –“++++” indicated low sensitivity to high sensitivity; # “+” –“++++” indicated low specificity to high specificity; § “+” –“++++” indicated long testing time to short testing time. NA indicated not applicable.