FIG. 3.

Comparison of real-time PCR assays using clinical urine specimens. CMV viral loads in 55 urine specimens were measured by the real-time PCR assays using DNA samples (equivalent to 3 μl of urine specimens) purified from urine specimens and using filter disks containing 3 μl of urine specimens. The obtained results were expressed as copy numbers per microliter of original urine specimen. For each specimen, the CMV copy numbers obtained in the assay using DNA purified from urine specimens (x axis) and those obtained in the assay using the filter (y axis) are plotted. Specimens from five asymptomatic newborns with congenital CMV infection obtained at birth (n = 5) and 1 month later (n = 1) are indicated with closed and hatched triangles, respectively. Specimens from a symptomatic newborn with congenital CMV infection obtained at birth and 1 month later, after treatment with ganciclovir, are indicated with closed and hatched squares. Other specimens are indicated with open circles. Dashed lines indicate the cutoff values.