Materials and method for detecting cytomegalovirus (CMV)

1. A method of amplifying and detecting cytomegalovirus (CMV) nucleic acid sequences in a sample, which method comprises:

(a) forming a mixture comprising

(i) the sample,

(ii) nucleic acid amplification reagents,

(iii) a first pair of primers for amplification of a unique long 34 (UL34) nucleic acid sequence, the first pair of primers consisting of 5′ TGA ACT TCA TCA TCA CCA CCC GAG ACT 3′ [SEQ ID NO: 49] as a forward primer and 5′ CCT TGT ACG CTT TGG AAA TCG AGC CTG 3′ [SEQ ID NO: 50] as a reverse primer,

(iv) a second pair of primers for amplification of a unique long 80.5 (UL80.5) nucleic acid sequence, the second pair of primers consisting of 5′ CGG CTA GTG TCG TGT TAG C 3′ [SEQ ID NO: 16] as a forward primer and 5′ CAC AAA AAT CCG CCG ATT CAG ATC 3′ [SEQ ID NO: 47] as a reverse primer,

(v) a first probe for detection of amplification of the UL34 nucleic acid sequence, the first probe consisting of 5′ CG ACG ATT CAG TCC TGC GAG CC 3′ [SEQ ID NO: 51], and

(vi) a second probe for detection of amplification of the UL80.5 nucleic acid sequence, the second probe consisting of 5′AAG CCG CCG CAG CTT CCC AG 3′ [SEQ ID NO: 52];

(b) subjecting the mixture to conditions that promote amplification of the UL34 nucleic acid sequence and the UL80.5 nucleic acid sequence; and

(c) simultaneously or subsequently detecting the presence, amount or concentration of CMV in the sample,

wherein linearity ranges from 31.20 IU/mL to 156 million IU/mL for plasma and from 62.40 IU/mL to 156 million IU/mL for whole blood,

whereupon CMV nucleic acid sequences in the sample are amplified and detected.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture in (a) further comprises an internal control (IC) nucleic acid and a pair of primers for amplifying the IC nucleic acid and wherein the conditions in (b) also promote amplification of the IC nucleic acid, whereupon the IC nucleic acid sequence is amplified.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second probes is detectably labeled.

4. The method of claim 2 , which further comprises simultaneously or subsequently detecting the presence, amount or concentration of IC in the mixture, whereupon IC is detected in the mixture.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second probes is labeled with a fluorophore and a quencher.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fluorophore is FAM and the quencher is BHQ-1.