Connecticut Expands Newborn Screening to Include Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) Effective July 1, 2025

Connecticut Expands Newborn Screening to Include Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV)

Effective July 1, 2025

Starting July 1, 2025, all infants born in Connecticut will be screened for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) as part of the state’s routine newborn bloodspot screening panel.

What Pediatric Providers Need to Know:

• Prevalence: Approximately 1 in 200 babies in the U.S. are born with cCMV. Connecticut anticipates identifying around 175 affected newborns each year.
• Next Steps for Presumptive Positives:
  If the newborn screening indicates a potential cCMV infection, confirmatory testing is necessary. A urine CMV PCR test must be collected. (A cheek swab will not be considered diagnostic. Hospitals will be instructed to collect urine instead of saliva following an unsatisfactory hearing screen.)
  • Please assist the family in collecting and sending the urine sample as soon as possible, ideally within one week of notification.
• If Urine Confirms cCMV:
  The Connecticut Newborn Screening Network will contact you to recommend further evaluations, which typically include:
  • CBC
  • Liver function tests (AST, ALT) and bilirubin
  • Head ultrasound
  • Audiology evaluation
  • Ophthalmology referral
  • Infectious disease referral

Thank you for your collaboration in ensuring early detection and management of cCMV. Your timely follow-up helps protect the health and development of Connecticut’s youngest residents.

For any questions or assistance, please contact the Connecticut Newborn Screening Network at (860) 837-7870.