Does anyone know where i could have private blood test for CMV antibodies?

[tweety2000]

Hi,

I am 9 weeks into my 2nd pregnancy, got 20 month old toddler and I am worried to death about contracting CMV from him or anyone else for that matter. I got flu like symptoms for a month already. My GP did not want to do anything about it, even when I mentioned that i am worried it may be CMV. He just tried to calm me down, but i am still very concerned.
I would like to have a blood test done to be more certain what's happening but do not know where to go for it. GP is not offering. Does anyone know if it can be done privately and where?

I don't know of anywhere that does CMV testing, but if you've ever given blood, I think they screen all donated blood, so you may be able to find out that way.
The other thing to think about is what would you do with the information if you were tested? There is no vaccine or treatment for CMV. Why are you so worried about this particular virus?

I understand why you are worried, given that contraction of it during pregnancy is believed to be a leading cause of congenital brain abnormalities and other birth defects (often not mainfesting until the child is 5 or so). But the risk is only great if it is your primary infection during pregnancy, and given that 50-80% of adults have been exposed to the virus and carry antibodies already it's not that likely that you'll contract it for the first time.

If you really want a blood test, call BUPA or PP, or one of the Harley St practices (if you are in London), and they should be able to arrange one for you.

In the meantime, just be fastidious when handling nappies and doing nappy changes -as this is a comon route to passing on the infection.

thank you for replies, i have to say that iti s hard to avoid any bodily fluids from your toddler. he always slobers his fingers and then pokes into mymouth or grabs my cup, or any food i eat or wants to share his food with me. my husband shares cups, spoons with him, that means i need to avoid kisses and sex from him too. i am getting frastrated now.
my kid does not go to the nursery nor i take him to any kids groups right now, but my in laws got contact with other toddlers and could maybe catch that way and pass on to him (i do not know) i am getting paranoid.

just have to wait and see, nothing else i can do.

tweety2000: I think the chances of your flu-like illness being due to CMV are quite unlikely, but because the symptoms are persistent and given your anxiety I would have thought a sympathetic GP would have agreed to some serology tests to establish what your CMV status is. Knowing you have already had it would go a long way to putting your mind at rest.

You could always go back to GP and tell him you are finding it difficult to be reassured, and that your anxiety is starting to affect home life. If he still refuses, then perhaps you could make contact with the ante-natal services at the hospital where you are booked, and talk to a midwife who may understand your worries better. They also have the ability to take samples and order tests at the virology lab.

CMV has a fearsome reputation, because all the horror stories get focused on. As others have said, the chances are that you will have had CMV in the past by one means or another, and that there will be very little risk to your pregnancy.

Hi tweety2000.

Just a thought, have you considered what you would do if you were weren't immune for CMV. There is no vaccination and no effective treatment and if you were infected in this pregnancy the only way to know if it had passed on to your baby or not would be amniocentesis - and even then it would be watch and wait to see what happened.

It is very easy to think that a test showing you were immune would be reassuring and of course it would be. It is however worth thinking about the otherside.

If you came to me as a doctor and told me your concerns I would be sympathetic and I would understand how worried you are, but I would not recommend a test unless you had thought what you would do whatever the results showed.

Have a think about what you would do and go back and discuss it again. You may find you won't want the test after all or if you are still keen and have a clear plan about what you would do with the results they may still consider it. I would be very wary of getting a private blood test done without the support and follow up you would need if the test showed you had CMV.

I hope this helps a bit - it's not very fluffy and reassuring but it is an honest answer and it's what I would explain to my patients so they are in the best position to make the decision with me.

ps. For what it's worth I doubt you have it

Hope all goes well for the rest of your pregnancy.

as a mum who did catch CMV in my pregnancy and my child has been severely effected by it, i can reassure you that CMV does not make you feel ill for a month, i had what i thought was a 24 hr bug!
You can have a torch screen test (i had mine on the NHS) which will tell you if you're positive for CMV. The bloods you get taken at your 12 weeks scan can also be checked to see if you have had an active level of CMV in your system i.e you've caught cmv for the first time in your life in your first 12 weeks but even if you have there is only a 20% chance it will cross over to your baby. CMV is very rare BUT There is a vaccine for CMV and as far as i'm aware the government won't register it as it will be to expensive, and with CMV being one of the main causes of deafness (as well as other issues) in the uk you think maybe they should or at least raise awareness of this virus. Top tip Wash your hands! CMV did happen to me which was really sad but i have the most beautiful daughter who has always had to battle for life but is stronger than ever now and is 3 this year she is oodles of fun if not slightly cheeky. i hope i have reassured you if not been slightly honest - sorry if i'm not using the mums net lingo but this is my first ever post and just had to reply to you all