Ordering Recommendation

Useful if Giemsa stain is negative but high suspicion of babesiosis exists. Will not detect B. duncani or strain MO-1.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Serum Separator Tube (SST).

Specimen Preparation

Separate from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum to an ARUP standard transport tube. (Min: 0.4 mL) Parallel testing is preferred, and convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of the acute specimens. Mark specimens plainly as "acute" or "convalescent."

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

Bacterially contaminated, hemolyzed or lipemic specimens.

Remarks
Stability

After separation from cells: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)

Methodology

Semi-Quantitative Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA)

Performed

Mon, Wed, Sat

Reported

1-5 days

Reference Interval

Test Number
Components
Reference Interval
  Babesia microti IgG Less than 1:16
  Babesia microti IgM Less than 1:20

Interpretive Data




Component Interpretation
Babesia microti Antibody, IgG by IFA < 1:16 Negative - No significant level of detectable Babesia IgG antibody.
1:16 Equivocal - Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
> 1:16 Positive - IgG antibody to Babesia detected, which may indicate a current or past infection.
Babesia microti Antibody, IgM by IFA < 1:20 Negative - No significant level of detectable Babesia IgM antibody.
1:20 Equivocal - Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
> 1:20 Positive - IgM antibody to Babesia detected, which may indicate a current or recent infection.

Compliance Category

Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR)

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

86753 x2

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0093049 Babesia microti IgG 16117-4
0093050 Babesia microti IgM 16118-2
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • B microti Ab
  • B microti Ab panel
  • Babesia microti Antibodies (IgG, IgM)
  • Babesia Microti IgG/IgM Ab Panel
  • Babesiosis Serology
Babesia microti Antibodies, IgG and IgM by IFA