Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG + avidity test
General information:
- In pregnant women. CMV is the most common infection leading to spontaneous abortion, fetal damage and/or the development of a number of defects in newborns. Symptoms in children infected in utero are microcephaly; intracerebral calcification, chorioretinitis, mental retardation, jaundice, thrombocytopenia, vision and hearing problems or loss. In the latter case, abnormalities may appear months or years after birth. It is important to note that infection of the fetus or newborn can only occur with an active viral infection. It is dangerous to infect the mother during pregnancy if she does not have immunity (CMV IgG negative and CMV IgM positive). The consequences of CMV infection are different and depend on the period of pregnancy in which the infection of the fetus occurs. Therefore, it is extremely important to perform screening tests on all pregnant women and to determine the time of onset of infection, i.e. to distinguish congenital from perinatal infection. When the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies is detected, a diagnostic specification for the duration of the infection is necessary. In this case, using the avidity test
- In patients with reduced immunity (HIV, chemotherapy, transplanted, on biological therapy for rheumatoid arthritis or with suppressed immunity for another reason), when both types of antibodies are present. Cytomegalovirus usually "sleeps" in the body and does not cause harm. With a decline in immunity, frequent colds, stressful situations, the virus becomes active.
- Risk Assessment <15% low; 15% to 25% moderate; >25% high