The Development of Immunofluorescent Antibodies as Compared with Complement-Fixing and Virus-Neutralizing Antibodies in Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

Abstract

Using an indirect, 2-layered immunofluorescent technique with conjugated antibodies against human immunoglobulins, immunofluorescent (FA) antibody levels were determined in 4–10 serum samples from 3 previously healthy individuals and 7 immunosuppressed renal allograft recipients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Titres of complement-fixing (CF) and virus-neutralizing (NT) antibody were measured in the same sera. In 3 sets of sera, FA antibody appeared before CF. In all the others FA and CF titres showed similar changes, the titre of FA antibodies being higher. NT antibody rose later than FA and CF, and persisted longer at elevated levels. The FA test is rapid and easy to perform and can be of help in the early diagnosis of CMV infection. It can also be useful in suspected cases where low levels of CF antibody are found because of the greater sensitivity of the FA test.