title: Comparison of a rapid cytomegalovirus pp65 antigenemia assay revealed by immunofluorescence to an in-house assay revealed by immunoperoxidase for diagnosis in solid organ transplant recipient patients.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia is still one of the two major assays available for diagnosis and monitoring of CMV infections. A commercial rapid test recently available in Brazil for quantification of human cytomegalovirus pp65 antigenemia revealed by immunofluorescence technique was compared with the original in-house method revealed by immunoperoxidase in patients receiving solid organ transplants. Of 80 blood samples tested for CMV antigenemia, 34 (42.5%) were positive: commercial assay detected 33 (97%) and in-house assay detected 20 (58.8%) samples. The numbers of positive cells in the two assays were different, with a median of 4.5 and 12 positive cells obtained by in-house and commercial kit, respectively. Discrepancies between assays occurred in 15 specimens from patients with low-grade antigenemia (median 6 positive cells). The assay-time was reduced in approximately 50% compared to in-house methodology. In conclusion, besides comparable results obtained for both assays, the commercial antigenemia assay provides more rapid and sensitive results.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Section, Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. emersoncarraro@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.forename: Jacyr
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pasternak
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perosa
authors.forename: Itacy
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Marines Dalla Vale
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Martino
mesh_terms: D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C065418:cytomegalovirus matrix protein 65kDa