Determination of different cytomegalovirus immunoglobulins (IgG,IgA, IgM) by immunofluorescence

Summary Cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulins were determined by immunofluorescence. CMV IgM-antibodies usually reach relatively high titers soon after infection and can be detected in the blood of patients 2–8 months post infection. This confirms the experience that demonstration of CMV-IgM-antibodies is a suitable indicator of recent infection. CMV-IgM-antibodies were found in cases of clinical infectious mononucleosis.The development of CMV antibodies types IgM and IgA was followed up in some patients over a period of several months. IgA-antibodies do not react with complement and therefore cannot be detected by complement-fixation-test (CFT). The immunofluorescence techniques proved as a useful means for the detection of CMV-IgA-antibodies. Immunofluorescence techniques are more suitable for CMV-antibody determinations than CFT.