3029. PCR. Cytomegalovirus (blood, quantification)

Quantitative PCR test for detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in blood. It allows to assess the degree of viremia, the activity of the infection and control the effectiveness of antiviral treatment, in particular, in persons with weakened immunity.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV, HHV-5) belongs to herpesviruses and is widespread throughout the world. In most cases, the infection is asymptomatic, however, in the case of immunosuppression (for example, in HIV-infected patients, transplant recipients, patients after chemotherapy, newborns or pregnant women), the virus can cause severe damage: hepatitis, pneumonia, damage to the central nervous system, placenta or fetus.

Quantitative PCR allows not only to establish the presence of the virus, but also to estimate its concentration (viral load), which is important for monitoring the activity of the disease, assessing the risk of complications and monitoring the effectiveness of antiviral therapy.

A feature of CMV is that viral DNA is detected in the blood only in the viremia phase. In the absence of the virus in the blood, but in the presence of clinical symptoms, the study of other materials is recommended: saliva, urine, vaginal secretion, cerebrospinal fluid.

• For patients with immunosuppression (HIV, after transplantation, oncological diseases) to detect and monitor viremia.
• Pregnant women with positive IgG/IgM or suspicion of primary infection – to exclude the active phase.
• For newborns – for the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection.
• In the case of clinical manifestations (hepatitis, pneumonia, encephalitis) with suspicion of CMV etiology.
• To assess the effectiveness of antiviral therapy.

• Venous blood

In order to exclude factors that may affect the test results, we recommend to follow the preparation rules: