External quality assessment of cytomegalovirus DNA detection on dried blood spots

Abstract
Testing for viral DNA in neonatal blood dried on paper (DBS) has proved a valid means of diagnosing congenital CMV infection with both clinical and epidemiological relevance. To assess the quality of the detection of CMV-DNA on DBS in laboratories performing this test a proficiency panel consisting of nine samples with two blood spots on each filter paper was produced and distributed. Six samples were derived from whole blood, negative for CMV DNA and antibody, and spiked with cell-grown CMV Towne in various concentrations (7.3 × 102 – 9.6 × 105 copies/ml), one was a CMV positive clinical specimen (3.9 × 106 copies/ml), and two samples were CMV-negative whole blood.

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