If you foresee a need for this service for your hospital, please contact this laboratory. In recent years the number of transplant operations carried out by the major Irish hospitals has steadily increased. There is a growing population of solid organ and bone marrow recipients who are vulnerable to diseases due to immunosuppression. In addition there is a population of HIV positive individuals in the community who are susceptible to opportunistic viral infection. Fortunately, anti-viral therapy is available to treat CMV infection.
Prompt diagnosis is vital.
The average turn-around time for results is 24 hours. This test is also available for the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection. Optimal results can only be obtained with fresh specimens. The number of Hepatitis A infections indicated by the detection of specific IgM continues to increase. The levels now detected are approaching those last seen three years ago.