Public Class ListViewExt

    Inherits ListView

    Public Sub New()

        Me.View = View.Details

    End Sub

    Dim WM_KILLFOCUS = &H8

    Protected Overrides Sub WndProc(ByRef m As System.Windows.Forms.Message)

        If m.Msg <> WM_KILLFOCUS Then

            MyBase.WndProc(m)

        End If

    End Sub

End Class

'Source: https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/443aa2d6-2bb3-4884-a9d0-0d7e9158c5a0/retain-blue-background-on-listview-selected-item-when-focus-leaves-listview?forum=winforms