Discrimination between recent (primary) and past cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can be an important tool in the clinical management of transplant recipients and pregnant women. Although nearly all individuals with recent CMV infection are positive for CMV IgM, individuals with past CMV may also express CMV IgM, following viral reactivation; thus, detection of CMV IgM is not a reliable indicator of recent infection. Measurement of CMV IgG avidity can assist in discriminating recent from past CMV infection. Although a low avidity index is a reliable indicator of CMV infection within the previous 6 months, a high avidity index is more meaningful from a clinical standpoint; a high avidity index essentially excludes the possibility that infection occurred within the previous 4 months
0.5 mL Serum from a Red Top Tube in a Plastic Vial
0.5 mL Serum in a SST Gold Top Tube
7 days Ambient (Transport)
14 days Refrigerated
30 days Frozen
Centrifuge and separate from cells immediately
0.25 mL Serum
≥0.60
Discrimination between recent (primary) and past cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can be an important tool in the clinical management of transplant recipients and pregnant women. Although nearly all individuals with recent CMV infection are positive for CMV IgM, individuals with past CMV may also express CMV IgM, following viral reactivation; thus, detection of CMV IgM is not a reliable indicator of recent infection. Measurement of CMV IgG avidity can assist in discriminating recent from past CMV infection. Although a low avidity index is a reliable indicator of CMV infection within the previous 6 months, a high avidity index is more meaningful from a clinical standpoint; a high avidity index essentially excludes the possibility that infection occurred within the previous 4 months
Laboratory Developed Test at Focus Diagnostics, Inc.
1 to 3 days
00913333
86644