Patent ID: 6177241
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for detection of human cytomegalovirus infection comprising the steps of:(a) providing a mixture comprising (1) a solid phase containing at least one fusion protein, said at least one fusion protein comprising at least one peptide having at least one epitope of human cytomegalovirus that specifically binds to human cytomegalovirus-specific IgM, said at least one fusion protein comprising peptides A1C2 and F3, (2) a patient specimen, and (3) peptides A1C2 and F3;(b) allowing IgM antibodies to human cytomegalovirus to specifically bind to said at least one fusion protein and to the peptides A1C2 and F3;(c) adding an IgM conjugate to detect IgM antibodies specifically bound to said at least one fusion protein contained on said solid phase; and(d) determining the level of IgM antibodies to human cytomegalovirus in the patient specimen, wherein the amount of said peptides A1C2 and F3 is sufficient to bind low levels of human cytomegalovirus-specific IgM antibody present in patient specimens not indicative of acute or recent human cytomegalovirus infection yet not so great that said amount of said peptides A1C2 and F3 binds medium to high levels of human cytomegalovirus-specific IgM antibody present in patient specimens indicative of acute or recent human cytomegalovirus infection.