Serum

Red top tube

3 mL; red top

Plasma specimens

Test performed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

See Interpretive Data

Negative - No significant level of detectable CMV IgG antibody
Equivocal - Repeat testing in 7-14 days may be helpful
Positive - IgG antibody to CMV detected, which may indicate a current or past CMV infection.

The best evidence for current infection is a significant change on two appropriately timed specimens, where both tests are done in the same laboratory at the same time.

Sera collected very early in the acute stage of disease may have undetectable IgG levels. In immunocompromised patients, CMV serology (IgG or IgM antibody titers) may not be reliable and may be misleading in the diagnosis of acute or reactivation CMV disease. Positive results from cord blood should be interpreted with caution. The presence of total or IgG CMV antibodies in cord blood is usually the result of passive transfer from mother to the fetus. A negative test, however, may be useful in excluding current infection, but the most definitive diagnosis of CMV infection requires viral culture. Positive test results may not be valid in persons who have received blood transfusions or other blood products within the past several months. Lack of significant increase in antibody level does not exclude the possibility of CMV infection.

Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Immunoassay (ELFA)

Centrifuge within one hour of draw time.
Centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes.
Aliquot serum into labeled container and cap.
Label transport tube with two patient identifiers, date and time of collection.

Refrigerate serum 2-8°C.

Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Use refrigerated coolant packs.

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