title: Umbilical cord blood screening for cytomegalovirus DNA by quantitative PCR.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, which is the most common congenitally transmitted infection, affects approximately 1% of neonates worldwide. Despite its prevalence, no convenient screening test for neonatal CMV infection has been implemented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and yield of screening umbilical cord blood for CMV DNA emiaby quantitative PCR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Umbilical cord blood was tested for CMV DNAemia using a commercial quantitative PCR assay. Maternal CMV serostatus at the time of delivery was assessed by testing for CMV IgG and IgM antibodies in serum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening for congenital CMV infection with PCR is easily incorporated into routine labor and delivery care using discarded cord blood specimens to identify neonates whose infection is otherwise undiagnosed. Among 433 infants tested, two (0.5%) had DNAemia detected in cord blood, one of whom was symptomatic, and both of whose mothers were CMV IgG positive and IgM negative. Viremic neonates identified by screening with PCR may be at high risk of developing long-term neurological complications of CMV infection and cannot reliably be identified using clinical presentation or maternal serology. Because of its convenience, cord blood CMV screening with PCR should be further investigated for incorporation into neonatal screening protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University at Grady Health Systems, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. rtheile@emory.edu
authors.forename: Regan N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Theiler
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Caliendo
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pargman
authors.forename: B Denise
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Raynor
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berga
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McPheeters
authors.forename: Denise J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jamieson
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral