This virus may cause a chronic progressive nervous system disease. HTLV is a retrovirus that usually establishes an asymptomatic, but chronic infection. CMV testing detects current or past infection with the cytomegalovirus, a member of the herpes family. In adults, this virus which is spread through contact with infected secretions, generally causes a mild self-limited disease characterized by fever, sore throat and swollen glands. However, infection of a fetus during pregnancy can result in stillbirth, mental retardation, hearing loss, and other serious problems.
Antibody testing detects current or past infection with the cytomegalovirus.
Only specimens from donors who test negative for the semen culture and PCR or are antibody negative for CMV are released for use. Unlike HIV, the vast majority of these individuals are not shedding CMV from any site and are not infectious. Syphilis testing detects current or past infection with the organism Treponema pallidum that causes syphilis. Individuals with this infection may have many different symptoms often starting with skin lesions. This infection can be transmitted to a fetus and result in stillbirth or a child with a congenital infection.