Quantitative CMV antigenemia correlated with ophthalmoscopic screening for CMV retinitis in AIDS patients

To assess the efficacy of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen test in detecting the clinical presence of CMV retinitis. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 86 HIV positive patients who underwent dilated fundus exams for CMV retinitis. All patients had a CMV antigen assay performed within three months of their retinal exam. At a level of 45, the antigen test has a sensitivity of 96% in correctly detecting CMV retinitis and a specificity of 90.2%. The negative and positive predictive values of the antigen test were 98.2% and 80%, respectively. CMV antigen blood test provides a useful screening tool in detecting the presence or absence of CMV retinitis. An antigen level less than 45 strongly suggests the absence of retinitis.