A comparison of four commercial test kits for detection of cytomegalovirus antibodies in blood donors.

Four commercial test kits for detecting cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies (indirect hemagglutination assay, indirect fluorescent antibody technique, enzyme immunoassay, and passive latex agglutination technique) were compared according to their technical demand, hands-on time, turnaround time, concordance with other techniques, reagent cost per test, and objectivity. The indirect hemagglutination assay, the enzyme immunoassay, and the passive latex agglutination technique produced identical results in 85 donors, detecting 63 positive and 22 negative samples. The indirect fluorescent antibody technique showed discrepant results in four samples. The passive latex agglutination technique rated best overall since it was technically the easiest and required the least hands-on and turnaround times; the short turnaround time (10 minutes) rendered the latex technique a more flexible test for blood bank use because both scheduled and emergency CMV screening of donors could be accommodated. The comparatively high reagent cost of the latex test kit could be offset by savings on technologist time.