Journal of ViroIogicaI Methods, 38 (1992) l-10 0 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. / All rights reserved / 0166-0934/92/$05.00 1 VIRMET 01326 Detection of CMV DNA in clinical samples of AIDS patients by chemiluminescence hybridization M. Musiani, M. Zerbini, G. Gentilomi, D. Gibellini, G. Gallinella, S. Venturoli and M. La Placa Institute of Microbiology. University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Accepted 13 December 1991) zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXW Summary A sensitive chemiluminescence dot-blot hybridization assay for the detection of CMV DNA in clinical samples of AIDS patients is described. In the chemiluminescence hybridization assay, digoxigenin-labelled CMV DNA probes were used and when hybridized they were detected by anti-digoxigenin Fab fragments conjugated with alkaline phosphatase. Adamantyl I ,2-dioxetane phenyl phosphate was used as the chemiluminescent substrate. The results were recorded by instant photographic films. The results obtained with the chemiluminescence hybridization assay were compared with the results obtained by hybridization with colourimetric detection. The chemiluminescent assay proved specific, sensitive and reliable and thus can be used as a valuable routine diagnostic test for the detection of CMV DNA in clinical samples. Cytomegalovirus DNA; AIDS patients; Chemiluminescence assay Introduction Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important opportunistic pathogen in patients with the acquired immunodeticiency syndrome. In these patients CMV can cause pneumonia, hepatitis, retinitis, encephalitis, enteritis and a febrile illness. CMV has also been implicated in exacerbating the underlying infection with the human immunodeticiency virus (Drew, 1988; Jacobson and Mills, 1988; Nelson et al., 1988; Skolnik et al., 1988; Bonetti et al., 1989). Correspondence to: M. Musiani, Institute of Microbiology, via Massarenti 9, I-40138 Bologna, Italy