Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that occurs widely but rarely causes symptoms. In Australia, by the age of 20 years, around 50% of adults have been i

Every year, congenital cytomegalovirus affects more babies than Down syndrome, toxoplasmosis and listeriosis. Yet, many people have never heard of this condition, and among those who are infected, most don’t even realise it. If someone contracts the virus whilst they are pregnant, they can pass it on to their unborn baby with devastating results.

Several viruses are transmissible by blood transfusion. Lifeblood’s mandatory testing includes screening for a number of transfusion-transmissible viruses.

Clients with chronic conditions are more susceptible to infection for several reasons, with the type of chronic condition(s), exposure to healthcare settings, and medicines and treatments all contributing to this risk.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies are a group of tests that are ordered to help diagnose a current, recent, or past EBV infection. EBV is a member of the h

TORCH is an acronym for a group of four infectious diseases that may cause illness in pregnant women and may cause birth defects in their newborns depending

Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) is a protein that is found on the surface of almost all cells in the body and is shed by cells into the blood, particularly by B l

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common cause of anaemia. Symptoms are related to the overall decrease in number of red blood cells and/or level of haemog

GBS is an autoimmune disease in which the peripheral nerves and nerve roots are damaged by the immune system’s antibodies and lymphocytes. The myelin (nerve insulation) and sometimes the axon (the inner covered part of the nerve) of the nerves are damaged, causing delays and changes to the signals being transmitted between the nerves and the brain.