Ability of three IgG-avidity assays to exclude recent cytomegalovirus infection

Citation
M. Bodeus et al., Ability of three IgG-avidity assays to exclude recent cytomegalovirus infection, EUR J CL M, 20(4), 2001, pp. 248-252
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Microbiology
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
ISSN journal
09349723 → ACNP
Volume
20
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
248 - 252
Database
ISI
SICI code
0934-9723(200104)20:4<248:AOTIAT>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
At present, the measurement of IgG avidity appears to be the best method fo r differentiating primary from nonprimary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. This study compared the performances of three denaturation assays for the m easurement of CMV IgG avidity: an in-house method and the commercially avai lable assays Enzygnost (Dade-Behring, Germany) and Vidas (bioMerieux, Franc e). The ability of these assays to exclude or to detect a recent CMV infect ion were calculated according to the results obtained in two control groups of pregnant women: 49 who had seroconverted and 80 with past infections. A ll three assays demonstrated a good ability to detect a recent infection (9 8-100%). The Dade-Behring test, in its present form, appears to be ineffect ive in excluding a recent CMV infection (exclusion ability: 30%), while the in-house method (exclusion ability: 96%) and the bioMerieux method (exclus ion ability: 82%) performed better. The practical use of the in-house and t he bioMerieux assays was evaluated in 80 women with CMV-specific IgG and a positive IgM result but without documented seroconversion. At the recommend ed diagnostic thresholds, the concordance between these two tests was 70%. Larger studies will allow more precise determination of the capacities of b oth assays and specification of the diagnostic thresholds or grey areas to be used.