ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory
| 0050383: Rickettsia typhi (Typhus Fever) Antibody, IgM by IFA |
| Test Mnemonic: TYPHU M | |
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Methodology: Indirect Fluorescent Antibody
Performed: Tue, Fri Reported: 1-5 days |
| Specimen Required: | |
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Collect: One 4 mL SST.
Transport: 1 mL serum at 2-8°C. (Min: 0.5 mL) Submit specimen in an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. Pediatric Collection/Transport: 0.15 mL serum at 2-8°C. Remarks: Separate serum from cells ASAP. Acute and convalescent specimens must be labeled as such; parallel testing is preferred and convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of the acute specimens. Please mark specimen plainly as "acute" or "convalescent." Unacceptable Conditions: Severely lipemic, hemolyzed, or contaminated specimens. Stability: After separation from cells: Ambient: 2 days; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles) |
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| Reference Interval: |
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< 1:64 Negative - No significant level of Rickettsia typhi IgM antibody detected. ³1:64 Positive - Presence of IgM antibody to Rickettsia typhi detected, suggestive of recent infection. |
| Interpretive Data: | |
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This test is for antibodies to Rickettsia typhi. Any antibody reactivity to Rickettsia typhi antigen should, however, also be considered group-reactive for the Typhus Fever group (Rickettsia prowazekii). Seroconversions or an increase between acute and convalescent IgG and IgM titers of at least fourfold is considered strong evidence of recent infection. While the presence of IgM antibodies suggests recent infection, low levels of IgM antibodies may occasionally persist for more than 12 months post-infection. |
| CPT Code(s): | |
| 86757 |