# CMV+/- Testing for Adults

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmv-testing-for-adults/697005>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 30, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmv-testing-for-adults/697005 "2014-08-30T21:01:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![la\_fille\_intellectuelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@la\_fille\_intellectuelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/la_fille_intellectuelle)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmv-testing-for-adults/697005/1 "2014-08-30T21:01:18Z")

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How would I go about finding out whether or not at some point I’ve ever been infected with cytomegalovirus?

Apparently its a BIG deal if you happen to be CMV negative to the Red Cross since certain people suffer from immunosuppression.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmv-testing-for-adults/697005/2 "2014-08-30T21:14:56Z")

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I found out I was negative when I gave platelets at a local hospital. They like cmv- platelets for newborns.

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**Author:** ![Amberlei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Amberlei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amberlei)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cmv-testing-for-adults/697005/3 "2014-08-30T21:17:32Z")

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You can have an IgG titer test to determine if you’ve had a past exposure, and an IgM titer test to determine if you’ve had a recent exposure. I believe blood banks typically perform IgG testing on all samples, with IgM testing done on samples testing positive for CMV IgG.