Economic evaluation on diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus infection by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction in neonates

Objective To explore the cost-effectiveness of the diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus ( CMV) infection by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction ( FQ-PCR ) in neonates. Methods Serum CMV immunoglobulin M ( CMV-IgM) and CMV-IgG were detected using ELISA in 610 neonates aged less than 14 days. CMV DNA content was detected by FQ-PCR. The cost-effectiveness analysis was then performed. Results The positive rate of FQ-PCR in neonates with positive CMV-IgM was 42. 9% ( 15 /35) ,while,2. 9% ( 16 /547) in neonates with positive CMV-IgG. The mean logarithm values of CMV DNA in neonates with positive CMV-IgM were higher than those in neonates with positive CMV-IgG ( 5. 79 ± 1. 24 vs 4. 11 ± 0. 87; P 0. 01) . The costs of the diagnosis of CMV infection by FQ-PCR were 256 RMB /case in neonates with positive CMV-IgM,and 3760 RMB /case in neonates with positive CMV-IgG. Conclusions The CMV DNA content in neonates with positive CMV-IgM is higher than that in neonates with positive CMV-IgG. Diagnosis of congenital CMV infection by FQ-PCR in neonates with positive CMV-IgG is not suitable for large scale epidemiological survey because of high cost-effectiveness ratio.