• Erius Tebuka, Ruharara D Fulgence, Bertrand Msemwa, Vitus Silago, Stephen E Mshana, and Mariam M Mirambo.
• Department of Pathology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania.
• Afr Health Sci. 2019 Sep 1; 19 (3): 235123552351-2355.

BackgroundDespite blood transfusion being a lifesaving option, it may be associated with blood borne infections including human cytomegalovirus(HCMV). The World Health Organization recommends screening of blood products for HCMV before transfusion to pregnant women, neonates and immunocompromised patients. However, this is not routinely practised in many resource limited countries.ObjectiveThis study aimed at determining seroprevalence of specific HCMV IgM antibodies among volunteered blood donors at the Lake Victoria zone blood transfusion centre.MethodsA total of 228 sera from volunteered blood donors were analyzed using HCMV IgM µ capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay as per manufacturer's instructions. Data were analyzed by STATA version 13.ResultsThe median age of the study participants was 19 interquartile range (IQR): 18-23 years. The seroprevalence of specific HCMV IgM antibodies was found to be 23/228 (10.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6-14. None of the factors was found to be associated with HCMV IgM seropositivity among blood donors.ConclusionOne out 10 blood donors in the Lake Victoria zone blood transfusion centre is acutely infected with HCMV. There is a need to consider screening of HCMV before blood transfusion particularly in resource limited countries where HCMV is endemic.© 2019 Tebuka et al.

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