Study of Cytomegalovirus CMV Spread and Immune Response in Young Children and Staff at Childcare Centers Observational Testing of CMV in Saliva Samples from Children up to 3 Years and Center Staff

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how common cytomegalovirus CMV shedding is among young children up to 36 months old attending large group childcare centers and the staff who work regularly at these centers. This observational study aims to understand CMV transmission in early education and care settings and to develop infrastructure such as community engagement, data management, digital platforms, and sampling workflows to support future study stages. Participants include children up to 36 months of age and staff members who work regularly at these childcare centers. Each participant will complete a health survey and provide one saliva sample for CMV PCR testing to detect viral shedding. The study also pilots home sample collection to prepare for broader research efforts. During the study, participants will provide saliva samples and complete health surveys. Researchers will measure the prevalence of CMV shedding based on saliva PCR results. The study runs until the end of 2027 and involves building data pipelines and participant networks. This initial stage informs the design of subsequent research phases to better understand CMV transmission and immune responses.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Transmission and Immune Tracking (TransmIT) Study