Recovery of cytomegalovirus DNA from newborn saliva samples by different methods.

Background: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of saliva swabs has been shown to be an attractive method to screen for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. However, few data are available regarding the impact of pre-analytic methods on CMV DNA recovery from saliva samples under various conditions.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of various transport media and transport conditions on the recovery of CMV DNA from spiked and clinical saliva samples from newborns using PCR testing.

Cost-effectiveness of Universal and Targeted Newborn Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection.

Importance: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is a major cause of childhood deafness. Most cCMV infections are not diagnosed without newborn screening, resulting in missed opportunities for directed care.

Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of universal and targeted newborn cCMV screening programs compared with no cCMV screening.

Symptomatic Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection Is Underdiagnosed in British Columbia.

Records were reviewed from all infants tested for congenital cytomegalovirus infection in British Columbia, Canada from 2006 to June 2014. Fourteen of 701 infants, or approximately 4.2 per 100,000 live births, had a positive test, indicating that >90% of expected symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection cases were not diagnosed using clinician-initiated testing.