RELIABILITY OF 4 METHODS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE INFECTION BY EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS

We studied the reliability of new indirect tests in the diagnosis of a cute infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Studied for all samples we re: method I,the heterophil antibodies (Abs) (Monolatex, Biokit, Germa ny); method 2, the IgM Abs to EBV with ELISA tests (antigen pools, Enz ygnost, Behring-werke, Germany); method 3, EA (Biotest Diagnostics, Ge rmany); and method 4, the IgG avidity test. The reliability of the fou r tests for the detection of primary infection by EBV was: sensitivity (method 1:89.1%; method 2: 100%; method 3: 79.7%; method 4: 99%); spe cificity (method 1:98%; method 2: 100%; method 3: 84%; method 4: 100%) ; positive predictive value (method 1: 97.6%; method 2: 100%; method 3 : 73.6%; method 4: 100%), and negative predictive value (method 1: 90. 7%; method 2: 100%; method 3:84%; method 4: 99%).The IgG avidity test (method 4) is simple and automated in the laboratory and is very usefu l for ascetaining, from a single sample, the time since infection. It is criteria of recent primoinfection higher levels than 55% of IgG wit h low avidity for the antigen. The investigation of the Abs to antigen pools (method 2) by ELISA of virus had a high reliability, but the in vestigation of heterophil Abs by latex (method 1)and the Abs IgM to EA (method 2) were lacking in sensibility regarding their use in the dia gnosis of the primoinfection. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 11:78-81. (C) 1997 W iley-Liss, Inc.