Abstract
Complement fixation (C-F) antibody test has been commonly employed to assess the role of CMV in human disease. But results have been controversial for unknown reasons. To determine the adequacy of this approach, C-F, indirect IgG fluorescent (FA), and hemagglutination (IHA) antibody responses were determined serially in 33 congenitally and 17 natally infected infants between birth and 5 years (mean ages 31 and 15 months, respectively). Both FA and IHA were far more sensitive for detection of CMV antibody throughout the study interval with AD-169 as antigen. The FA and IHA levels were high and remained significantly elevated from birth onward in spite of slight waning. In contrast, C-F levels waned unpredictably and rapidly in the first year; low levels which fluctuated between + and − were observed in the latter half. Thus only FA and IHA consistently monitored the continuing active viral infection in both groups. In natal infections, IHA proved the better monitor for infant antibody production in the presence of maternal antibody, probably due to its increased responsiveness to IgM antibody moieties. The data indicate that both FA and IHA are more appropriate diagnostic and sero-epidemiologic tools for study of perinatal CMV infections. In fact, validity of the results of prior sero-epidemiologic studies using C-F tests should be reexamined.
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Tsiantos, A., Stagno, S., Reynolds, D. et al. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SEROLOGIC ASSAYS FOR PERINATAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) INFECTIONS. Pediatr Res 8, 430 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00538
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00538