Bc. Gartner et al., Evaluation of a recombinant line blot for diagnosis of Epstein-Barr Virus compared with ELISA, using immunofluorescence as reference method, J VIROL MET, 93(1-2), 2001, pp. 89-96
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.