Clinical use of cytomegalovirus seronegative blood products

Transfusion laboratories are required to have written policies for the selection of CMV-negative blood components. Where appropriate, the policy should include transfusion to pregnant women and for intrauterine and neonatal transfusions. Transfusion laboratories should review and update their policy to align with current National recommendations. Laboratories should also consider auditing their requests for CMV seronegative blood components to monitor compliance with their policy

When developing policies and protocols for CMV seronegative blood products, health service organisations and transfusion laboratories should recognise that fresh blood products in Australia are leucodepleted and the risk of acquiring CMV through a leucodepleted blood product is estimated at around 1 in 13,575,000. This compares to a community-acquired risk where 85% of Australian adults are infected by the age of 40.

CMV ‘safe’ means through leucodepletion or antibody testing of donor blood. Neither process excludes the possibility of transfusion‐transmitted infection; rather, they both provide a significant risk reduction. It is unknown whether CMV seronegative blood products provide significant additional protection over routine leucodepletion.