For the next several weeks, the Clinical Microbiology laboratory will be sending blood specimens with requests for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA detection to a reference laboratory for PCR analysis. This announcement applies to both qualitative and quantitative CMV determinations. Anticipated turnaround will be 72-96 hours. Please continue to use the Clinical Microbiology requisition and send the specimens to the Clinical Microbiology laboratory (BT 6004 GH). Specimens for the quantitative test must be in the laboratory by noon, Monday through Friday in order to be processed and received by the reference lab within 24 hours.

This decision was necessitated by deteriorating performance of the hybrid capture molecular assay we have been routinely performing in-house. We have initiated an effort to evaluate and then implement the same PCR-based method used by our reference laboratory for qualitative and quantitative CMV determinations here at the UIHC. We expect this assay to be functional in approximately six weeks. At that time, CMV determinations will again be performed in-house with 24 hour turnaround time. Thank you for your patience during this transition period. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Gary Doern, Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory (6-8616) or Ms. Beth Alden, (4-9568).

Also, beginning immediately, low-volume specimens for blood culture such as those typically obtained from pediatric patients should be inoculated into a single, large, aerobic adult-size blood culture bottle. Use of pediatric blood culture bottles for such specimens, as has been our practice in the past, is no longer necessary. Given the blood culture system now in place in the Clinical Microbiology laboratory, the large bottles are equivalent to pediatric bottles in documenting bacteremia in cases where only small volume specimens can be obtained. You may continue to use the pediatric blood culture bottles until the current stock has been exhausted. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Gary Doern, Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory (6-8616) or Ms. Janet Croco (6-2591).

Thank you for your consideration in these matters.