Detection of enteroviral RNA on Guthrie card dried blood of a neonate with fatal Coxsackie B3 myocarditis on day 17

A fatal case of Coxsackie B3 myocarditis in a neonate is described. The clinical features became evident in the 3rd week of life, but enteroviral RNA was detected in the dried blood spot of the baby collected on day 4 after birth. This is the first report on the detection of enteroviral RNA in Guthrie card dried blood using reverse-transcriptase PCR. Materials and methods used are described in detail.