Application of Molecular Diagnostic Techniques for Viral Testing

Cobo, Fernando

BK virus can be detected in urine samples by conventional PCR; also, a quantitative real-time PCR technique has been developed to monitoring BK virus DNA in renal transplant recipients [69] . Active BK virus nephropathy is associated with high quantitative levels of BK virus DNA, and resolution of nephropathy was correlated with decreased DNA virus level in urine. However, although it is a sensitive test, the presence of BK virus DNA in this kind of samples does not necessarily means a true infection because there is asymptomatic reactived infection in 10-45% of renal transplant patients. Therefore, the result should be confirmed using blood samples [70] . In this sense, research has demonstrated that renal transplant recipients with higher urine DNA levels are more likely to show detectable DNA in blood. On the other hand, a negative result does mean no association of BK virus with nephritis.