Blood as a potential vehicle for the cytomegaloviruses.

This study analyzed transfused blood as a potential vehicle for infectious cytomegalovirus (CMV) particles. A total of 207 patients who received a total number of 897 units of blood were monitored. A complement-fixing antibody titer of 1:8, as determined by micro-titer technique, was observed in 14.8 per cent of the blood units. A total of 140 individuals in this study were serosusceptible. Eighty-six serosusceptible individuals did not receive blood containing complement-fixing CMV antibodies. In this patient population three instances of seroconversion were identified. Among the 54 serosusceptible individuals who received at least one unit of blood whose complement-fixing titer to the AD-169 strain of CMV was 1:8 or greater, 13 seroconversions were observed.