Why are Cytomegalovirus (CMV) negative donors important?
CMV is a virus that is commonly transmitted between people, for example, by close contact in day-care settings, via breast milk, through sexual contact and by blood transfusion. Between 40-90% of the general population have been exposed to the virus in the past. In people who are well with a normal immune system, the infection usually goes unnoticed and they do not have any symptoms of the infection. However this is not the case for people who have a weakened immune system, such as premature babies and people needing a bone marrow or organ transplant. CMV infection in these people can be very serious. CMV can be transmitted by blood transfusion. For this reason it is recommended that particular groups of patients, who are at risk of getting severe consequences of CMV infection, receive blood that has been tested and found negative for CMV exposure. The Australian Red Cross Blood Service screens blood donations for CMV antibodies, which if positive indicate that the donor has been expos
