Qualitative membrane enzyme immunoassay for detection of cytomegalovirus antibody

A new qualitative membrane immunoassay for use in detecting IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was compared with a standard microplate enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A total of 179 patients were tested by the EIA for IgG- and IgM-specific antibodies to CMV and then compared with the new membrane immunoassay. Among the 179 sera, five specimens were repeatably invalid. Among the 174 evaluable sera, 128 (73.6%) were positive for IgG antibody to CMV by the EIA method. Of these 128 sera, the Transtat-CMV was positive in 124 (96.9%). The remaining 46 sera were negative for IgG antibodies by both methods. The Transtat-CMV membrane immunoassay appears to be a reliable and easily used method not requiring additional equipment or extended incubation times. As a qualitative-only assay, it cannot be used for diagnosis.