Universal Newborn Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus Using Dried Blood Spot Specimens

What is the feasibility and screen-positive rate of newborn dried blood spot screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV)?In this diagnostic study, 208 322 newborns were screened for cCMV, and screening results were reported for 208 099. CMV was detected in 529 newborns (1 in 393), of whom 276 (1 in 754) were diagnosed with cCMV, including 68 with symptomatic cCMV disease, 197 with asymptomatic cCMV infection, and 11 with isolated sensorineural hearing loss; another 131 (1 in 1589) had postnatally acquired CMV.These findings suggest that newborn screening for cCMV is feasible but is hindered by factors including assay sensitivity and frequent identification of newborns with postnatally acquired CMV.

Corresponding Author: Norma P. Tavakoli, PhD, Division of Genetics, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 120 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208 (norma.tavakoli@health.ny.gov).

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