Content Information
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that infects people of all ages. Most children and adults infected with CMV don't feel sick and don't know that they have become infected; others might have mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, tiredness, or swollen glands. Infants and children who are infected with CMV after birth rarely have problems.
But when CMV infection occurs during a woman's pregnancy, the baby can become infected before birth. CMV infection of the baby before it's born is called congenital CMV, or cCMV. When this happens, the virus can get transmitted to the unborn baby and can potentially damage the baby's brain, eyes, and hearing.
People can become infected with CMV by coming into contact with the body fluids of someone who has CMV. These body fluids include saliva, urine, blood and tears.
How is the baby tested for cCMV?
If your baby did not pass their newborn hearing screening, the baby's health care provider will collect saliva (also called spit) or a small amount of urine from your baby to test for the presence of the cytomegalovirus. The saliva is collected by using a special cotton-swab to swipe the inside baby's mouth. A urine sample is collected by putting a special bag on the baby to catch the urine.
This all needs to be done before the baby is 21 days old in order to get accurate results. If it is done after 21 days of age, it can be hard to tell if the baby got CMV before they were born or after they were born. If they got CMV before they were born, there can be a greater chance that the CMV may affect their developing brain, eyes, and hearing.
What do the results mean?
What if the test says my baby has cytomegalovirus?
If the test for CMV that your baby's health care provider has used comes back positive for CMV, don't panic. This doesn't mean that your baby will have hearing loss or other serious conditions. Your baby's health care provider may recommend that your baby has further testing of their hearing or eyesight, or that your baby be watched more closely in order to catch any problems early so that they can get treatments or therapies to help them. Sometimes the health care provider may recommend anti-viral medications for your baby.
It will be important to follow the plan of care discussed with the baby's health care provider.
Cost
Talk with your baby's health care provider about the cost of cCMV screening. Insurance usually covers this screening.
Refusal
Can I refuse to have my baby screened for cCMV?
Iowa Law requires all babies that do not pass their newborn hearing screen to receive cCMV screening because it is so important to find out if the baby may have cCMV in order to provide treatment as soon as possible to prevent delays in communication and language development, or serious health conditions.
After hearing or reading all the information about newborn CCMV screening, a newborn's parent or guardian may decide to not have their baby receive cCMV screening; they may choose to opt-out of (or refuse) the screening.
Your baby's health care provider will have you sign a refusal form.