Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that is usually harmless and transmitted through sexual contact or contact with blood and other body fluids of an infected person, or from transplanted organs. The virus can also spread from an infected mother to the growing fetus through the placenta.
A pregnant woman can pass CMV to her fetus following infection by CMV for the first time, reinfection with a different CMV strain, or reactivation of a previous infection during pregnancy.
Primary CMV infection in pregnant women will cause about 30% intrauterine infection and 60% to 80% of their infected neonates will develop sequelae. In contrast, pregnant women with secondary CMV infection have only a 0.2% -2% risk of causing intrauterine infection. This is why it is important to identify primary CMV infection as early as possible.
According to CDC, serological tests that detect CMV antibodies (IgM and IgG) are widely available in commercial laboratories. IgM positive results in combination with low IgG avidity results are considered reliable evidence for primary infection[1].
CMV testing can not only be used in Obstetrics and Neonatology, it can also be applied in some special departments since primary CMV infection is generally asymptomatic in healthy adults but can cause severe and even fatal diseases in immunocompromised individuals and transplant recipients. Since the numbers of both HIV and transplantation patients are increasing, there has been a growing demand for CMV tests in infection and transplantation departments. Respiratory and dermatology departments may also prescribe CMV tests for patients with allergic symptoms.
As part of Mindray’s efforts to make healthcare within reach, Mindray has developed reliable ToRCH serological tests with high sensitivity and specificity for our customers.
References
1. https://www.cdc.gov/cmv/clinical/lab-tests.html
2. P Rice. "Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in pregnancy." (2008).
