FIG. 6.

Serum and plasma specimens are equivalent substrates for Q-PCR. Serum, plasma containing heparin, plasma containing EDTA, and plasma containing citrate were tested. The plasma was obtained from each of four healthy volunteers (subjects a, b, c, and d; subject a, CMV seronegative; subjects b to d, CMV seropositive) and was seeded with CMV to 15,000 particles/ml (a1, b1, c1, and d1), 1,000 particles/ml (a2, b2, c2, and d2), and 185 particles/ml (a3, b3, c3, and d3), and the CMV loads were determined by Q-PCR. Open bars, plasma containing heparin; hatched bars, plasma containing citrate; stippled bars, plasma containing EDTA; filled bars, serum.