Use of peptides to improve specificity of an immunoassay for the detection of cytomegalovirus specific IgM antibody

摘要

This invention provides a method, a reagent, and a kit for detecting herpesvirus-specific IgM antibodies indicative of recent infection while preventing detection of low levels of herpesvirus-specific IgM antibodies present in individuals of low risk. The invention also provides a reagent for use in detecting herpesvirus-specific IgM antibodies indicative of recent infection while preventing detection of low levels of herpesvirus-specific IgM antibodies present in individuals of low risk.;The method of this invention comprises the steps of:;(a) providing a solid phase containing at least a portion of a herpesvirus antigen;;(b) introducing a patient specimen to the solid phase of step (a);;(c) introducing at least one peptide capable of specifically binding IgM antibodies to herpesvirus to the solid phase of step (a);;d) allowing IgM antibodies to herpesvirus to specifically bind to the portion of antigen of herpesvirus and the peptide capable of specifically binding IgM antibodies to herpesvirus to the solid phase; and;(e) determining the level of IgM antibodies to herpesvirus in the patient specimen.