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Test ID CMVM Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Antibodies, IgM, Serum

Reporting Name

Cytomegalovirus Ab, IgM, S

Useful For

Aiding in the diagnosis of acute infection with cytomegalovirus

 

This test should not be used for screening blood or plasma donors.

Specimen Type

Serum


Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.4 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reference Values

Negative

Reference values apply to all ages.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86645

Clinical Information

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the Herpesviridae family of viruses and usually causes asymptomatic infection, after which it remains latent in patients, primarily within bone marrow-derived cells. Primary CMV infection in immunocompetent individuals may also manifest as a mononucleosis-type syndrome, similar to primary Epstein-Barr virus infection, with fever, malaise, and lymphadenopathy.

 

CMV is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among bone marrow or solid organ transplant recipients, individuals with AIDS, and other immunosuppressed patients due to virus reactivation or from a newly acquired infection. Infection in these patient populations can affect almost any organ and lead to multiorgan failure. CMV is also responsible for congenital disease among newborns and is 1 of the TORCH infections (toxoplasmosis, other infections including syphilis, rubella, CMV, and herpes simplex virus).

 

CMV seroprevalence increases with age. In the United States, the prevalence of CMV specific antibodies increases from approximately 36% in children from 6 to 11 years old to over 91% in adults over 80 years old.

Interpretation

A negative cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM result suggests that the patient is not experiencing acute or active infection. However, a negative result does not rule-out primary CMV infection.

 

It has been reported that CMV-specific IgM antibodies were not detectable in 10% to 30% of cord blood sera from infants demonstrating infection in the first week of life. In addition, up to 23% (3/13) of pregnant women with primary CMV infection did not demonstrate detectable CMV IgM responses within 8 weeks postinfection. In cases of primary infection where the time of seroconversion is not well defined, as high as 28% (10/36) of pregnant women did not demonstrate CMV-IgM antibody.

 

Positive CMV IgM results indicate a recent infection (primary, reactivation, or reinfection).

 

IgM antibody responses in secondary (reactivation) CMV infections have been demonstrated in some CMV mononucleosis patients, a few pregnant women, and kidney and cardiac transplant patients. Levels of antibody may be lower in transplant patients with secondary, rather than primary, infections.

 

Equivocal CMV IgM results may occur during acute infection or may be due to nonspecific binding reactions. Submit an additional sample for testing if clinically indicated.

Cautions

Sera collected very early during the acute stage of infection may have undetectable levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM.

 

Immunocompromised patients may have impaired immune responses and nonreactive IgM results may be due to delayed seroconversion and do not rule-out current infection.

 

CMV IgM results should not be used alone to diagnose CMV infection. Results should be considered in conjunction with clinical presentation, patient history, and other laboratory findings. In cases of suspected disease, submit a second specimen for testing in 10 to 14 days.

 

The performance characteristics of these assays have not been evaluated in immunosuppressed patients or organ transplant recipients and have not been established for cord blood or for testing of neonates.

 

Immune complexes or other immunoglobulin aggregates present in patient specimens may cause increased nonspecific binding and produce false-positive results.

 

Potential cross-reactivity for CMV IgM may occur with specimens positive for Epstein-Barr virus viral capsid antigen IgM and parvovirus B19 IgM.

Clinical Reference

1. Soderberg-Naucler C, Fish KN, Nelson JA: Reactivation of latent human cytomegalovirus by allogeneic stimulation of blood cells from healthy donors. 1997 Oct 3;91(1):119-126.

2. Bruminhent J, Thongprayoon C, Dierkhising RA, Kremers WK, Theel ES, Razonable RR: Risk factors for cytomegalovirus reactivation after liver transplantation: can pre-transplant cytomegalovirus antibody titers predict outcome? Liver Transpl. 2015;21(4):539-546

3. Dioverti MV, Razonable RR: Cytomegalovirus. Microbiol Spectr. 2016;4(4). doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.DMIH2-0022-2015.

4. Staras SA, Dollard SC, Radford KW, Flanders WD, Pass RF, Cannon MJ: Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in the United States, 1998-1994. Clin Infect Dis 2006 Nov 1;43(9):1143-1151

Method Description

The BioPlex 2200 cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM assay uses multiplex flow immunoassay technology. Briefly, CMV antigen coated fluorescent beads are mixed with an aliquot of patient sample and sample diluent and incubated at 37° C. During this time, IgM anti-CMV antibodies in the specimen will bind to the CMV antigen on the beads. After a wash cycle, a fluorescently labeled antihuman-IgM antibody conjugate is added to the mixture and incubated at 37° C. Following a wash step to remove unbound conjugate, the bead mixture is passed through a detector that identifies the bead based on dye fluorescence and determines the amount of antibody captured by the antigen based on fluorescence of the antihuman-IgM conjugate. Raw data is calculated in relative fluorescence intensity and is converted to an antibody index for interpretation. Antibody index (AI) values of 0.8 and lower are considered negative. AI values of 0.9 and 1.0 are equivocal. AI values of 1.1 and above are considered positive. Three additional dyed beads, an internal standard bead, a serum verification bead, and a reagent black bead are present in each reaction mixture to verify detector response, the addition of serum to the reaction vessel and the absence of significant nonspecific binding in serum, respectively.(Package insert: BioPlex 2200 System, ToRC IgM. Bio-Rad Laboratories; 08/2017)

Report Available

Same day/1 to 3 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus Reject
Heat-inactivated specimen Reject

NY State Approved

Yes

Method Name

Multiplex Flow Immunoassay (MFI)

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916) with the specimen.