Les difficultés d'interprétation du sérodiagnostic des infections à cytomégalovirus

The diagnosis of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is generally based on serodiagnosis, at least for immunocompetent individuals. The presence of CMV-specific IgM represents a necessary but not sufficient criterion for the diagnosis of a CMV primary infection. Measurement of the CMV-specific IgG avidity index may allow to establish the diagnosis of recent CMV primary infection. In the absence of IgG, the detection of CMV viremia and/or the observation of a seroconversion for IgG on a subsequent serum allows to distinguish between a CMV primary infection and a false IgM positivity.