What it measures
Antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common virus of the herpes family. IgG antibodies show a past infection, and IgM antibodies can point to a recent one. Once caught, CMV stays in the body for life, usually without symptoms.
Why people test it
- Checking for past or recent infection before or during pregnancy.
- Investigating a glandular-fever-like illness when Epstein-Barr virus tests are negative.
- Checking before an organ transplant or in people with a weakened immune system.
Typical range
There is no numeric range. The result is reported as positive or negative for each antibody type (IgG and IgM), and some labs also report an equivocal result. The report shows how that lab reports it.
Finger-prick or vein?
Providers offer this test only from a vein sample, taken at a clinic.