Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common infection, and although serious disease is rare in immunocompetent individuals, CMV is a major pathogen for immunocompromised patients, including solid organ transplant recipients, hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, and patients treated with immunomodulating drugs.
The range of clinical disease due to CMV in immunocompromised patients is broad and includes febrile syndromes, hepatitis, pneumonitis, retinitis, encephalitis, esophagitis, and colitis. Since the signs and symptoms of CMV disease often overlap with other infectious processes and rejection, the diagnosis is made by integrating the clinical history, clinical presentation, and laboratory data. Because CMV produces lifelong latent infection, distinguishing active disease from latent infection and asymptomatic reactivation presents an additional diagnostic challenge.
High levels of plasma CMV DNA are closely correlated with clinical disease in immunosupressed patients. Virus quantitation may be used to predict or identify CMV disease.
If a diagnosis of CMV in an immunocompetent patient is required, serology is the test of choice.
Microbiology - Virology
QCMV
Dedicated EDTA tubes required, minimum 4mL whole blood
If sample is not EDTA, register DCMV
Please refer to separating guide in Additional Information section below
Testing available daily on routine weekdays.
Add-on requests for Viral load testing are only able to be performed if other plasma viral loads have been requested as dedicated sterile samples are required. Viral loads cannot be added to samples previously processed for CBC testing. Please contact Virology ext 80356 to discuss.
CMV DNA quantitation
CMV Titre
Cytomegalovirus viral load
3 days
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