Cytomegalovirus antibodies in dried blood spots: a minimally invasive method for assessing stress, immune function, and aging.

TitleCytomegalovirus antibodies in dried blood spots: a minimally invasive method for assessing stress, immune function, and aging.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsDowd, JB, Aiello, AE, Chyu, L, Huang, Y-Y, McDade, TW
JournalImmun Ageing
Volume8
Issue1
Pagination3
Date Published2011 Jan 13
ISSN Number1742-4933
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a prevalent herpesvirus with links to both stress and aging. This paper describes and validates a minimally invasive method for assessing antibodies against CMV in finger stick whole blood spot samples for use as an indirect marker of an aspect of cell-mediated immunity.

RESULTS: Analysis of CMV in dried blood spot samples (DBS) was based on modifications of a commercially available protocol for quantifying CMV antibodies in serum or plasma. The method was evaluated through analysis of precision, reliability, linearity, and correlation between matched serum and DBS samples collected from 75 volunteers. Correlation between DBS and plasma values was linear and high (Pearson correlation R = .96), and precision, reliability, and linearity of the DBS assay were within acceptable ranges.

CONCLUSIONS: The validity of a DBS assay for CMV antibodies will enable its inclusion in population-based surveys and other studies collecting DBS samples in non-clinical settings, increasing scientific understanding of the interaction of social and biological stress and immune function.

DOI10.1186/1742-4933-8-3
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21232134?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Biomarker data

Endnote ID

62800

Alternate JournalImmun Ageing
Citation Key7661
PubMed ID21232134
PubMed Central IDPMC3031243
Grant ListR01 AG040115 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R21 NR011181 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
R21 NR011181-02 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
T32 HD007545 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States