[Detection of early cytomegalovirus antigen in cell culture].

The reference technique for the diagnosis of active cytomegalovirus infection is the isolation in cellular culture. Its major drawback is the interval between the inoculation of the sample and the development of the characteristic cytopathic effect. Occasionally, this delay may be longer than four weeks. The centrifugation of the sample on the cell monolayer at the time of inoculation and the use of a fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibody for the detection of the early antigen in cells may considerable reduce the time required for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection. In the present study the technique of detection of the early antigen by immunofluorescence was compared with conventional cell culture in 258 clinical samples referred to the laboratory for study. Fifty-one of them were positive: 28 with both techniques, 12 only with cell culture and 11 only with immunofluorescence. The mean time to obtain positive results was 25 hours for immunofluorescence and 13 days for culture.