Universal Newborn Testing Could Detect More Congenital CMV Cases
A three-year study screened 48,556 newborns at two Jerusalem hospitals and identified 176 congenital cytomegalovirus infections, about 3.6 per 1,000 babies. More than half of those infants would not have been tested under targeted screening because they appeared healthy or lacked clear risk signs. The researchers say routine screening could allow earlier monitoring for hearing and developmental complications.
The Jerusalem study screened 48,556 infants over three years, nearly all births at two Hadassah hospitals. It found 176 congenital CMV cases, roughly 3.6 per 1,000. Targeted testing would have excluded 100 of them, or 57%, because they looked well or lacked warning signs. Among those missed, eight later showed moderate or severe cCMV signs, three had hearing loss, and eleven received antivirals.
To make universal screening feasible, researchers pooled saliva samples and used PCR, adapting a COVID-19 testing strategy. Positive pools triggered individual follow-up, with urine confirmation. This cut lab tests by 83% while preserving sensitivity and covering almost 95% of newborns.
Universal cCMV screening could identify more affected newborns before symptoms emerge, allowing earlier hearing and developmental monitoring and, for some, timely antiviral treatment. Families may gain clarity and access to support, while health systems could face added confirmation, follow-up, and counseling demands. Pooled saliva testing may reduce laboratory workload, but its broader feasibility and cost implications could vary across hospitals and regions.