Evaluation of five commercial enzyme immunoassays for the detection of human cytomegalovirus-specific IgM antibodies in the absence of a commercially available gold standard.
In the recent years the number of commercially available immunoassays for the detection of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies has rapidly increased. The aim of the present study was to evaluate five commercial immunoassays for the serological diagnosis of HCMV-infection. These methods, namely the IMx CMV IgM assay, the AxSYM CMV IgM assay (both Abbott), the Gull CMV IgM, the CMV-IgM-ELA test PCS Medac and the Biotest Anti-HCMV recombinant IgM ELISA, were compared for their diagnostic effectiveness and interference with substances eventually producing cross-reactions with HCMV-IgM (Epstein-Barr-virus (EBV)-IgM, rheumatoid factor (RF)). In addition, repeated measurements on samples from kidney and heart transplant recipients with active HCMV infection were examined to compare the temporal development of the HCMV-IgM measured with the five assay systems. Since there is no commercially available gold standard, it was assumed that the true classification, of whether the patient sample is HCMV-IgM positive or negative, was unknown. Hence sensitivity and specificity were assessed based on a maximum likelihood approach using a "latent class" model. The cross-reactions were quantified by a Bayesian statistical model using prior information for the expected prevalences in the EBV-IgM and rheumatoid factor sample groups. The results of the study demonstrated that there are great differences in sensitivity and specificity as well as in cross-reactions with EBV-IgM and RF between the tested ELISAs.
Gemeinsame Einrichtung für Med.-Chem. Labordiagnostik, Blocklabor II, Universitätsklinikum Graz, Austria. bernd.genser@kfunigraz.ac.at
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B
Genser
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Truschnig-Wilders
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Stünzner
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Landini
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Halwachs-Baumann
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014180:Transplantation
D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M