title: Application of a commercial immunoblot to define EBV IgG seroprofiles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunoblot (IB) techniques using different Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens have been applied for detecting specific antibodies, making possible to obtain EBV seroprofiles in a single determination. The aim of this study was to evaluate a commercial IB for the detection of EBV-specific IgG (Euroimmun, Lübeck, Germany).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 117 samples classified as EBV primary recent infections (n = 70), past infections (n = 29), or not infected (n = 18) have been used. The samples were characterized by immunofluorescence, by testing EBV capsid antigens IgM and IgG (using indirect approaches) and EBV nuclear antigen (by anticomplement technique; Meridian Bioscience Inc.).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the cut-off value as defined by the IB manufacturer, the concordance, relative sensitivity, and relative specificity were 85.5 (100/117), 94.3% (66/70), and 72.3% (34/47), respectively. If a corrected cut-off value was considered to classify the samples, the corresponding corrected figures were 89.7, 88.6, and 91.5%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being a useful serological diagnostic tool, IB for testing EBV IgG seems to be an adequate approach to define EBV seroprofiles. However, efforts to better define the cut-off value should be made in order to improve the performance of the assay in evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Serology, National Center of Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Ory
authors.forename: Eulalia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guisasola
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tarragó
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sanz
mesh_terms: D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; immunoblot; immunofluorescence; infectious mononucleosis; seroprofiles