The archived 2013 British Committee for Standard in Haematology (BCSH), British Society of Bone and Marrow Transplantation (BSBMT) and UK virology network guidelines ‘Management of cytomegalovirus infection in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation’ addressed issues pertinent to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).1 In 2012 the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) released a position statement on blood components tested for CMV immunoglobulin (Ig)G; for CMV-seronegative patients undergoing HSCT CMV-unselected (CMV-U) leucocyte-reduced components can be safely transfused with no increased risk of transfusion-transmitted CMV infection.2 According to a recent UK wide survey, nearly 70% of allogeneic stem cell transplant centres in the UK now transfuse CMV-U components to all potential transplant recipients irrespective of serostatus,3 in line with the SaBTO guidance.
There is evidence that passive transfer of antibody from CMV-U components can lead to false-positive CMV IgG results.4, 5 This good-practice paper gives recommendations for practice relating to CMV testing in HSCT recipients in order to ensure CMV status is accurately assigned and donors selected appropriately.
Declaration of Interests
The BSH paid the expenses incurred during the writing of this guidance. None of the authors had conflicts of interest to declare. All authors have made a declaration of interests to the BSH and Task Force Chairs which may be viewed on request.