EVALUATION OF A NEW ELISA FOR RAPID SEROL OGIC HCMV (HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS) SCREENING

Immunocubes can detect very low HCMV IgG levels with at least the same sensitivity as the reference technique: Elisa. Samples containing bac teria showed no particular interference on the test, and results for n on-infected material were in agreement with those of Elisa. The rapid test did not give any false positive reactions even with samples from patients with very high antiherpes immunoglobulins levels. Samples fro m transplant patients at the beginning of seroconversion or diluted to IgG titers corresponding to Elisa cut-off values were always detected as positive by immunocubes. In view of the rapidity of the test, its high specificity, its ability to detect levels corresponding to extrem ely low IgG signals in Elisa, and the possibility of conserving object ive proof of the test, we conclude that this rapid immunocube techniqu e is of great interest for current serologic screening in an emergency context, especially for transfusion and organ transplantation.