The cytomegalovirus (CMV) consultation laboratory has two sites.

The contact persons at both sites represent each other for clinical-virological questions. Both sites have comparable diagnostic capabilities.

In special cases, materials and enquiries are exchanged between the sites.

In addition, the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin has established aConsultancy Laboratory for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and carries out consultations, diagnostics and scientific studies in this context.

Overview of services

HCMV diagnostics

• Serological methods for the differentiation of primary and recurrent infection
• Antibody determinations (IgG/IgM)
• IgG avidity determinations to narrow down the time of infection
• Pathogen detection using nucleic acid amplification and quantification
• Virus isolation
• ex-vivo antigen detection methods (semi-quantitative pp65 antigenaemia)
• Detection of postnatal HCMV reactivation in breast milk

Genotypic and phenotypic HCMV resistance

• Genotypic and phenotypic analyses to determine antiviral resistance
• Sequencing of the HCMV UL97 and UL54 genes
• Phenotypic testing in different plaque reduction test formats
• Marker transfer for the phenotypic characterisation of previously unknown or uncharacterised point mutations of the HCMV UL97/UL54 genes via BACMID technology

All results of the marker transfer determination in Tübingen are added to the database created and maintained in Ulm.

Further information can be found on the website of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI ) and in the RKI guide for doctors.

For diagnostic requests from outside Ulm University Hospital, please use the request form provided here