Toxoplasma antibodies
Microbiology
Notes
- The information given here is intended for use by healthcare professionals. Please see Lab Tests Online-UK for more general advice, links and background.
- Toxoplasma is a parasite that can cause a glandular fever like illness and may affect a foetus during pregnancy. It can reactivate in immunocompromised patients, for example causing cerebral toxoplasmosis in AIDS
- The laboratory performs a serological Toxoplasma screening test that will be referred to the reference lab if positive.
- Normally a level of <10iu/ml indicates no previous Toxoplasma infection. However in the setting of HIV infection, severe immunocompromise and ocular Toxoplasma infection a lower threshold of <4 iu/ml is taken as negative and any sample with levels above threshold is referred to the National Reference Lab, Swansea for further investigation including IgM tests.
- Toxoplasma antibody avidity testing is also available on discussion with a Microbiologist (this may be useful for possible pregnancy associated infection).
- Toxoplasma nucleic acid detection assays (e.g. PCR) can be performed on vitreous and aqueous fluid samples or an EDTA blood sample. Please discuss with the laboratory.
- This test is part of the following viral screen sets:
Sample requirements
Serum - paired samples normally required
8.5ml of blood taken into a plain gel tube
Required information
- Relevant clinical details
- Date of onset
- Pregnancy including gestational age
Storage/transport
Store at fridge temperature
Transport as soon as possible at ambient temperature
Turnaround time
Positives referred to a National Reference Centre
Negatives: 3 - 5 days
Positives: 10 - 14 days