Stability of cytomegalovirus antibodies in plasma during prolonged storage of blood components

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody testing is currently limited by manufacturers' guidelines to specimens stored for 7 days or less. We examined the stability of CMV antibodies in plasma from platelets and whole-blood units during storage using a rapid, automated, recombinant protein-based immunoassay which qualitatively detects total antibody to human CMV. Testing of single-donor apheresis platelets was performed on baseline serum and platelet-free plasma and on platelet-free plasma 8 days later. Indeterminate, positive, and negative CMV antibody results were maintained over time for 97% (75 of 77) of the platelet specimens. For whole-blood units, initial testing of donor serum and plasma obtained from erythrocyte segments took place within 7 days of phlebotomy. Indeterminate, positive, and negative CMV antibody results were maintained on subsequent analyses performed on erythrocyte segments at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks for 100% of whole-blood specimens. An important potential benefit of CMV antibody testing of stored platelets and blood is the elimination of a costly, dedicated, CMV-negative inventory. The study suggests that CMV antibody testing can be conveniently and reliably performed on blood components over the entire storage period.