Test Overview
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay
Support the diagnosis of Cytomegalovirus infection. The presence of IgG antibody generally indicates past exposure and immunity. The presence of IgM antibody indicates recent infection. Single IgG levels are not useful for supporting the diagnosis of an acute infection. Elevated levels in neonates should be followed up with studies to rule out the presence of maternal antibodies by demonstrating the absence of an IgM response.
NEGATIVE: no detectable IgG antibody to CMV; EQUIVOCAL: presence or absence of IgG antibody to CMV cannot be determined. Another specimen should be sent for analysis; POSITIVE: detectable levels of IgG antibody to CMV. Detectable levels of CMV antibody indicate previous exposure to CMV.
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
The performance characteristics of this test have not been established for CSF, neonates, infants, cord blood, or pre-transplant patients. This is a qualitative test; quantitation for comparison of acute and convalescent sera has not been validated by the manufacturer of the current test system. Result values from different methodologies or from different institutions cannot be compared. In some patients, antibody may rise to significant levels and fall again to lower or undetectable levels within a month. Other patients may not develop significant antibody levels.
Test Details
8 hours
- CMVG
- CMV IGG ANTIBODY TITER BY IFA
- CMV Antibody IgG
- CMV IGG Antibody
- CMV Serology
- CMVGE
- CMVGT
- Cytomegalovirus, IgG
- Viral Antibody: Cytomegalovirus IgG
- CMV IGG ANTIBODY BY EIA
- Cytomegalovirus IgG, Qual
- Torch Screen
Specimen Requirements
Collect specimen in an SST (preferred) or red top tube. Centrifuge, aliquot serum into a plastic vial and refrigerate.
Additional Information
The assay is reported as either positive or negative because the magnitude of the IgG level cannot be correlated to the amount of antibody present. Patients with AIDS may have markedly elevated antibody levels to CMV. Normal individuals generally show little or no change in IgG antibody upon recurrent infection. In contrast, rapid variable increases in IgG antibody levels frequently accompany recurrent infections in individuals following immunosuppression, organ transplantation, and multiple transfusions. As high as 80% of blood donors in the U.S. and Europe show serological evidence of prior infection with CMV.