Detection of cytomegalovirus antibodies in serum using the TranSTAT-CMV and CMV Scan assays

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology Vol. 99; no. 5; p. 539
• Main Authors: Roseff, S D, Campos, J M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-05-1993
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytomegalovirus - immunology; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques - standards; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Latex Fixation Tests - methods; Latex Fixation Tests - standards; Male; Middle Aged; Statistics as Topic
• ISSN: 0002-9173
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/99.5.539

Two hundred serum samples were tested with two assays for rapid detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies. The assays were CMV Scan, a two-step latex particle agglutination assay for CMV IgG and IgM antibodies, and TranSTAT-CMV, a newly available six-step solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for CMV IgG antibodies. Comparison of initial results to reference results revealed a sensitivity/specificity of 97.2%/96.8% for CMV Scan and 94.3%/83.0% for TranSTAT-CMV. The same comparison after testing discrepant samples in duplicate increased the sensitivity/specificity to 99.1/100% for CMV Scan and 100%/93.6% for TranSTAT-CMV. Borderline-positive results were observed much more frequently with TranSTAT-CMV than CMV Scan (35 vs. 2), compromising easy interpretation of results. CMV Scan is superior to TranSTAT-CMV on the basis of performance characteristics, simplicity of test performance, and ease of interpretation of results.