Abstract
The radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques were found to be comparable in sensitivity and specificity for detecting cytomegalovirus IgG antibody, and 10 to 100 times more sensitive than complement-fixation (CF), anticomplement immunofluorescence (ACIF) and passive haemagglutination (PHA). In screening for antibody, the frequency of false-positive and -negative results was 0 multiplied by 6% for RIA and ELISA, 1 multiplied by 5% for CF, 1 multiplied by 6% for ACIF and 3 multiplied by 6% for PHA. PHA was the least satisfactory test, largely because of technical problems. The present study was undertaken to compare the two methods for the detection of CMV IgG and to evaluate them against the older techniques of complement-fixation (CF), passive haemagglutination (PHA) and anticomplement immunofluorescence (ACIF).