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 commercial 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 panel B, patients with a high number of reactivations were included: immunosuppressed patients (37), lymphoma (19), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (10), chronic fatigue syndrome (14). Blood donors (43) and cross-reactive sera (29) were added as controls. Line blot and IFA were concordant in 94% of primary infections, 100% of seronegatives and 100% of past infections, similar to ELISA. Results differed significantly with regard to reactivations. When compared with IFA, the incidence of reactivations was overestimated by the blot, 24 and 58% in blood donors and cross-reactive sera, respectively. ELISA showed a similar problems with 21 and 34% indeterminate results, respectively. The line blot is easy to carry out, has a good concordance with the reference IFA for primary infections, and is, therefore, a sufficient choice for distinguishing primary infection from seronegative and past infection. EBV reactivation assessment will require other methods such as EBV viral load.
Gärtner
B C
BC
Department of Virology, University of Homburg/Saar, Kirrbergerstr. Haus 47, D-66421 Hombury Saar, Germany.
Fischinger
J M
JM
Roemer
K
K
Mak
M
M
Fleurent
B
B
Mueller-Lantzsch
N
N
D000208:Acute Disease; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000097:blood; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000097:blood; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D012698:Serologic Tests
D000914:Antibodies, Viral