Other names for this test: CMV (serum), cytomegalovirus serologic test, cytomegalovirus antibody, CMV antibody, CMV IgG, CMV IgM
CMV causes an infectious mononucleosis syndrome clinically indistinguishable from heterophil positive mononucleosis.
Signs include fever, malaise, and increased transaminase levels without jaundice.
This marker aids in the determination of serological status to CMV. IgG antibodies rise gradually and persist for the rest of an individual's life. The specific IgG assay is useful in distinguishing who has been exposed to the virus from those who have not. Levels of IgM to hCMV usually increase for some weeks and decrease slowly thereafter, in four to six months. Occasionally, IgM may circulate for years.
Most adults are infected with CMV and it is normal to be a carrier of the virus.
What is the Cytomegalovirus test?
This test looks for antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus in the herpes family, in your blood.
CMV is so widespread that most people in the U.S. have been infected by the time they reach age 40. But many don't realize it. You can pick up the virus by handling or exchanging bodily fluids, such as saliva, blood, urine, breast milk, and semen. The virus usually causes only a mild illness. But it can do serious harm to unborn children, people with HIV/AIDS, or others with weak immune systems.
Antibodies are germ-fighting molecules that your immune system makes in response to infection. If you have CMV-specific antibodies in your blood, you may have a CMV infection.
Like other herpes family viruses, CMV hides in the body after the first infection and can flare up again. Later infections tend to be milder. In fact, in adults with a healthy immune system, the first infection may not have any symptoms.
Why do I need this test?
You may need this test if you have unexplained symptoms that resemble the flu. If you've been infected with the virus, you may have these signs and symptoms:
- Prolonged high fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle and joint pain or stiffness
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swollen liver and spleen
You may also have this test if you are pregnant, have HIV, or are a transplant donor or recipient. If you have a current infection, your healthcare provider can give you certain medicines to reduce the danger of congenital CMV in infants or of active illness in people with weakened immune systems.
Only a lab test can confirm that you have CMV.
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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. CMV infections are widespread and can affect individuals of all ages. This virus may remain dormant within the body and periodically reactivate. While CMV infections are often asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms in healthy individuals, they can lead to more severe complications in those with weakened immune systems. In particular, CMV infections can pose risks to pregnant individuals and people with compromised immune function, such as transplant recipients or individuals with HIV/AIDS. Congenital CMV infection can be transmitted from a pregnant person to their baby and may lead to birth defects.
CMV is related to other herpesviruses like chickenpox, herpes simplex, and mononucleosis. It's essential to be aware of CMV, especially in certain medical contexts, to prevent and manage potential complications.
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A positive test for CMV IgG indicates that a person was infected with CMV at some time during their life but does not indicate when a person was infected. This applies for persons ≥12 months of age when maternal antibodies are no longer present.
If your IgG levels rise between the first and second test, that may mean you have an active infection. The fact that your IgG level increases is more important than the amount of IgG found. The increase shows that your immune system is busy fighting an infection and that the antibodies are not just leftover from an earlier fight.
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A positive CMV IgG result indicates exposure to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) at some point in the past but does not specify the timing of the infection. Here's what to do if you test positive for CMV IgG:
→ Consult a Healthcare Provider: If you test positive for CMV IgG, it's essential to consult a healthcare provider for further evaluation and guidance. They can assess your medical history, current health status, and the reason for the test.
→ Assess the Need for Treatment: In many cases, a positive CMV IgG result does not require treatment, especially if you are not experiencing active symptoms. CMV infections often remain dormant in healthy individuals and may not cause problems.
→ Special Considerations: If you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system, your healthcare provider will assess the specific circumstances. In pregnancy, CMV can pose risks to the fetus, and in immunocompromised individuals, it may lead to severe complications.
→ Prevention: Preventing new CMV infections is important, particularly for pregnant individuals. This involves practicing good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, and taking precautions to avoid close contact with individuals who may have an active CMV infection.
→ Follow Medical Advice: If your healthcare provider determines that treatment is necessary or if you have specific medical conditions, they will provide you with a treatment plan, which may include antiviral medications. Follow their advice closely.
It's crucial to have a healthcare professional assess your individual case and provide personalized recommendations based on your health status and any specific risks or concerns associated with a positive CMV IgG result.
Anthony
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What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
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As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
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Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.
Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.
With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.
For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.
Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.
For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.
Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.
You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
2. All Tests ViewExplore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.
3. Table View:For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.
Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
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