ABSTRACT
Cytomegalovirus [CMV] is a common virus that infects most people worldwide. Aim of this study is to compare between serological identification and molecular detection of CMV by PCR technique. The samples consisted of 120 pregnant women [complaining from repeated abortion], prospectively screened for CMV by serology. The women were presenting for routine antenatal care. CMV IgG and IgM were detected in patient serum by using a commercial microparticle enzyme immunoassay, and determination of the presence of CMV genome by PCR. All neonates were diagnosed after one month of birth by serological and clinical signs. The age range of the pregnant women was 18 to 46 years, with no significant difference seen between the mean age of seropositive and seronegative women. The CMV seropositivity rate for the pregnant women showed that, overall, 76.8% women were CMV IgG positive at pregnancy. Pregnant women were considered in high risk due to [i] documented seroconversion to positively for CMV [ii] presence of CMV immunoglobulin M [IgM] [iii] intrauterine growth retardation as detected by ultrasound or CMV symptoms [increase in liver enzyme levels and/or fever]. No. of all of them was 30. After birth it was found that 6 neonates [+ve] by serological tests and clinical signs of them. But, it was found that also one case false +ve from PCR group, and one case false -ve from the rest. So, determination of the presence of CMV genome by PCR can be considered as a rapid and accurate tool for detection of CMV infection but negative results cannot rule out of infection, so that diagnosis of this infection should be based on correlation between serological and PCR Identification