Envelope and nucleocapsid antigens of Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

A method for the purification and concentration of Cytomegalovirus nucleocapsids and particles complete with envelope is described. Antibody to either nucleocapsid or envelope antigens can be detected in human sera. In patients with CMV disease the antibodies to the envelope antigen could not be detected before the 3rd week after the beginning of disease whereas antibodies to the nucleocapsid were detected earlier.