Evaluation of a recombinant line blot for diagnosis of Epstein-Barr Virus compared with ELISA, using immunofluorescence as reference method

A commercial line blot using recombinant antigens was compared with a comme rcial ELISA and 'in-house' IFA (reference test). Two panels were evaluated: Panel A was selected to distinguish between primary infections (89), past infections (20) and seronegatives (8) in immunocompetent individuals. In pa nel B. patients with a high number of reactivations were included: immunosu ppressed patients (37), lymphoma (19), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (10), chron ic fatigue syndrome (14). Blood donors (43) and cross-reactive sera (29) we re added as controls. Line blot and IFA were concordant in 94% of primary i nfections, 100% of seronegatives and 100% of past infections, similar to EL ISA. Results differed significantly with regard to reactivations. When comp ared with IFA, the incidence of reactivations was overestimated by the blot , 24 and 58% in blood donors and cross-reactive sera, respectively. ELISA s howed a similar problems with 21 and 34% indeterminate results, respectivel y. The line blot is easy to carry out, has a good concordance with the refe rence IFA for primary infections, and is, therefore, a sufficient choice fo r distinguishing primary infection from seronegative acid past infection. E BV reactivation assessment will require other methods such as EBV viral loa d. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.