Comparison of a multiplexed bead-based assay with an immunofluorescence and an enzyme-immuno assay for the assessment of Epstein-Barr virus serologic status.
We have compared a multiplexed bead-based assay (BBA) with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for the assessment of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serostatus. Three hundred and ninety-three sera, classified according to IFA results as seronegative (n=100), acute infection (n=100), past infection (n=100) and indeterminate (n=93), were tested by BBA and EIA. Overall, the three methods gave similar results with a relatively high (75.2%) concordance with the consensus interpretation of the serostatus. The most significant discordances were: (i) 58 samples had uninterpretable results for BBA, in majority due to the detection of non-antigen specific antibody binding by control beads. (ii) almost half the samples positive for anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) IgG by BBA or EIA were negative by IFA. Among the latter, only a minority had a history of immunocompromise or treatment, or detectable anti-early antigen antibody. This discrepancy probably reflects a poor sensitivity of IFA for anti-EBNA IgG detection. EIA and BBA had a similar performance and had substantial practical advantages over IFA with respect to testing for EBV serostatus.
Devanthéry
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O
Institut de Microbiologie et Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculté de Biologie et Médecine, Rue du Bugnon 48, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Meylan
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P
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008863:Microspheres; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D017735:Virus Latency
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor