Cytomegalovirus infection in liver-transplanted children

Table 3 Uses of available cytomegalovirus assays

Use	Assay
Diagnosis	CMV viral load by plasma QNAT; CMV viral load by real-time PCR assay; pp65 antigen testing; CMV IgG/IgM antibodies
Diagnosis of tissue-invasive CMV disease	Histopathology
Pre-transplant risk stratification	CMV IgG/IgM antibodies
Threshold for initiation of pre-emptive therapy	CMV viral load by plasma QNAT; Quantitative pp65 antigen measurement; NASBA assay
Monitoring or endpoint (prophylaxis, pre-emptive or treatment)	CMV viral load by plasma QNAT; QuantiFERON-CMV assay
Endpoint of treatment of tissue-invasive CMV disease	Histopathology
Prediction of developing CMV disease	QuantiFERON-CMV assay

CMV: Cytomegalovirus; Ig: Immunoglobulin; PCR: Polymerase chain reaction; QNAT: Quantitative nucleic acid testing.