What blood tests will dr do to detect cmv?

Antibody tests: Can be done - igm for acute infection and igg for prior exposure. We use an antigenemia assay for monitoring in our bmt patients. Many centers use a pcr assay.

PCR: PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests are used to detect the virus in the blood. Antibody tests (CMV IgG) will indicate the past exposure to CMV but cannot tell whether there is an active infection.