How rare is a negative CMV negative blood?
Regular testing is conducted on blood donations to check for CMV antibodies. Because CMV exposure is so prevalent, CMV negative blood is very special. If up to 85% of adults in the US have been exposed by age 40, that means only 15% of the population has CMV negative blood – a very special group indeed.
Are blood transfusions screened for CMV?
CMV is generally harmless to adults, but can be fatal to babies. For this reason, babies needing transfusions as part of their medical care should only receive blood from donors who have not been exposed to CMV (CMV negative). Regular testing is conducted on blood donations to check for CMV antibodies.
What does CMV negative mean for pregnancy?
If the donor sperm recipient has never been exposed to CMV, her status should be negative. This means she does not have the antibodies and resistance to the virus. In order to reduce the risk of infection to her unborn child, she may want to select a sperm donor whose CMV status is also negative.
Who needs the transfusion of CMV negative blood products?
CMV seronegative products should be used for the following clinical indications: pregnant women regardless of CMV status who require regular elective transfusions during pregnancy (but not during delivery) recipients of intrauterine transfusions IUT. neonates (up to 28 days post expected date of delivery), and.
What are the benefits of having O negative blood?
O Negative blood can help save any and all trauma patients, premature babies, and cancer patients. But it is also the only blood type that can save O Negative recipients. When someone with O Negative blood has an accident or undergoes surgery, they must receive an O- transfusion.
What does it mean if your blood is CMV negative?
One out of every five people in the greater Los Angeles area is CMV-Negative, meaning their blood has never been exposed to cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV is a common virus which is harmless to most people but can cause severe infections for patients with weak immune systems.
What percentage of the US population is CMV negative?
Only 15 percent of adults are CMV negative. Unlike blood donation, there is no minimum age for those in need of lifesaving blood.
How common is CMV in pregnancy?
CMV is the most common infection passed from pregnant people to babies during pregnancy. One in 3 pregnant people passes the infection on to their babies. If you have CMV during pregnancy, the virus in your blood can pass through the placenta to your baby.
Should I be tested for CMV when pregnant?
You are not likely to be tested for CMV It is not recommended that doctors routinely test pregnant women for CMV infection. This is because laboratory tests cannot predict which developing babies will become infected with CMV or have long-term health problems.
Should I worry about CMV in pregnancy?
If you get infected with CMV during pregnancy, it may cause pregnancy loss or serious health problems in your baby, including preterm birth or low birthweight, or hearing loss at birth or later in life. CMV is the leading cause of hearing loss in this country, causing 1 in 3 cases of hearing loss.
Can a baby receive blood from a donor with CMV negative?
For this reason, babies needing transfusions as part of their medical care should only receive blood from donors who have not been exposed to CMV (CMV negative). Regular testing is conducted on blood donations to check for CMV antibodies.
Is there a test for cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy?
Therefore, this test is not of practical value in evaluating patients in the critical first half of pregnancy. Detection of CMV in amniotic fluid by culture or PCR accurately identifies an infected fetus. However, a comprehensive ultrasound examination is then invaluable in determining the extent of fetal injury.
What does a Positive CMV test result mean?
A positive result indicates a current or past CMV infection. A second blood test, called CMV IgM antibody will help determine if the CMV infection is current or past. If positive, the infection may be current, usually sometime within the last 4 months.
Who should be given CMV negative blood?
For that reason, people who are immunocompromised, such as people with HIV or AIDS, should be given CMV negative blood when needed. The American Red Cross supplies CMV negative, pediatric-specific blood products to hospitals throughout the country every day.