Toxoplasma blood test

定义

The toxoplasma blood test looks for 抗体 in the blood to a parasite called 刚地弓形虫.

选择的名字

Toxoplasma serology; Toxoplasma antibody titer

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

There is no special preparation for the test.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people may feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. 这很快就会消失.

Why the Test is Performed

The test is done when the health care provider suspects that you have 弓形体病. The infection is a danger to a developing baby if a pregnant woman gets infected. It is also dangerous in people with 艾滋病毒/艾滋病.

In pregnant women, the test is done to:

• Check if a woman has a current infection or had an infection in the past.
• Check if the baby has the infection.

The presence of 抗体 before pregnancy probably protects a developing baby against 弓形体病 at birth. But 抗体 that develop during pregnancy may mean the mother and baby have a current infection. This infection during pregnancy increases the risk for miscarriage or birth defects.

This test may also be done if you have:

• An unexplained lymph node swelling
• An unexplained rise in the blood white cell (lymphocyte) count
• HIV and have symptoms of 弓形体病 of the brain (including headache, 癫痫发作, 弱点, and speech or vision problems)
• Inflammation of the back part of the eye (chorioretinitis)

正常的结果

Normal results mean you have likely never had a toxoplasma infection.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test result.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Abnormal results mean that you have probably been infected with the parasite. Two types of 抗体 are measured, IgM and IgG:

• If the level of IgM 抗体 is raised, you likely became infected in the recent past (or currently).
• If the level of IgG 抗体 is raised, you became infected sometime in the past.

风险

There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:

• 大出血
• Fainting or feeling lightheaded
• Multiple punctures to locate veins
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

参考文献

Mathison BA, Pritt BS. 医学寄生虫学. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24日艾德. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 65.

Montoya JG, Boothroyd JC, Kovacs JA. 刚地弓形虫. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9日艾德. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 278.