Comparative activity of immunofluorescent antibody and complement-fixing antibody in cytomegalovirus infection

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Abstract
Three different tests for detection of antibodies to human cytomegalovirus (CMV), complement fixing with antigen prepared by freeze-thaw disruption (CF-FT) or with antigen prepared by extraction with alkaline glycine buffer (CF-GE) and immunofluorescent staining (FA), were compared in renal transplant recipients and their healthy donors. FA and CF-GE tests yielded positive results at an identical and significantly higher frequency than CF-FT in donors and recipients. CF-GE and FA performed on donors and recipients predicted all virus shedding post-transplant; CF-FT did not. In the individuals who developed primary infection concurrent with the transplanted kidney, FA developed earlier than other antibodies in .apprx. 1/2 and at the same time in the remainder. The FA test also was completed more quickly, and all sera could be interpreted, making the FA test more useful than the CF-GE and both tests clearly superior to CF-FT.