Ym. Deyi et al., False-positive IgM antibody tests for cytomegalovirus in patients with acute Epstein-Barr virus infection, EUR J CL M, 19(7), 2000, pp. 557-560
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Microbiology
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The diagnosis of acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is frequently based
on a positive IgM result. False-positive reactions due to interfering infec
tions may exist. Between August 1998 and May 1999, 62 patients were found t
o be IgM positive and IgG negative with the Axsym assay (Abbott, Ger many).
Serological testing for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was performed in these pa
tients to detect any cross-reactivity due to acute mononucleosis. Additiona
lly, the results of the CMV Axsym was evaluated in 40 patients with acute E
BV infection. The results suggest that the CMV-IgM Axsym assay shows a lack
of specificity due to acute EBV infection. Precautions must be taken when
CMV-IgM Axsym results are interpreted. It seems necessary to confirm equivo
cal results with another technique and to take into account other clinical
and biological observations.