Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

October 2007     View PDF     En español

How can I tell if I have CMV infection?

When a person is first infected with CMV (called primary infection), it doesn’t typically cause symptoms. If they are present, symptoms might include fatigue, swollen glands, fever and sore throat. Since these are also symptoms of other illnesses like the flu, most people don’t know when they get CMV. This is why most primary infections are not diagnosed.

Several tests can be done to find CMV. These include blood or urine culture tests, blood tests to find either the virus or its antibodies, and body tissue samples. If the test comes back positive, it means you have CMV infection. However, it may not mean that CMV is causing any of the symptoms you may be feeling.