Rapid detection of human cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus hominis IgM antibody by the immunoperoxidase technique.

Immunoglobulin M (IgM) to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpesvirus hominis (HVH, types 1 and 2) has been searched for in a group of patients with congenital and recent CMV and HVH infections and also in a group of patients with remote CMV and recurrent HVH infections, using the immunoperoxidase antibody technique (IPA) as compared to a technique using sucrose density gradient differential centrifugation. Both techniques detected the same positive samples. High IgM antibody titers (1:32-1:512) were observed in all cases of primary CMV and HVH infection, whereas low titers (1:8-1:16) were found in congenital infections. The IPA technique is sensitive, specific and useful for rapid diagnosis of recent and congenital CMV and HVH infections.