Rapid Point-of-Care Tests for Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

The human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common intrauterine transmitted viral agents, leading to congenital CMV infection in three to ten newborns per thousand. Depending on the preexisting status of the mother, this infection leads to more or less severe symptoms and in about 2-6% the infected children die as a consequence of the infection. Beside this, sequelae occur in a number of infected children, mainly unit-rapid, point-of-care assay that could detect CMV DNA or proteins in urine or saliva would allow for immediate counseling and additional specimen collection for confirmatory testing, and would avoid having to create new laboratory infrastructure for widespread urine or saliva testing. Here we will develop a sensitive & selective assay that can be used in medium resource or clinic setting for both CMV proteins & DNA in urine. The assay will be based on aptamers and backscattering interferometry in an easy-to-use, rugged instrument. Combining these two technologies has major advantages with respect to speed of assay development & validation, sensitivity, simplicity & compatibility with urine or saliva. The final system will have sensitivity rivaling PCR but with the user simplicity of a lateral flow device.