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Test Code MISC2MAYOSFGP Spotted Fever Group Antibody, IgG and IgM, Serum

Reporting Name

Spotted Fever Group Ab, IgG, IgM, S

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Serum


Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.2 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reference Values

IgG: <1:64

IgM: <1:64

Reference values apply to all ages.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86757 x 2

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
SFGP Spotted Fever Group Ab, IgG, IgM, S 90260-1

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
84342 Spotted Fever Group Ab, IgG, S In Process
84346 Spotted Fever Group Ab, IgM, S In Process

Testing Algorithm

For more information see Acute Tick-Borne Disease Testing Algorithm.

Useful For

Aiding in the diagnosis of spotted fever group rickettsial infections

Clinical Information

Species of Rickettsia are small (0.3-0.5 mcm x 1-2 mcm) obligately intracellular bacteria (Proteobacteria). They have a gram-negative cell wall structure. Rickettsiae are found in arthropod hosts for at least part of their life cycle.

 

Rickettsial infections in the United States are caused by 2 major groups within the genus Rickettsia: spotted fever group and typhus fever group. The spotted fever group includes Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever), Rickettsia akari, Rickettsia conorii (Boutonneuse fever), Rickettsia australis (Queensland tick typhus), and Rickettsia sibirica (North Asian tick typhus). The typhus fever group includes Rickettsia typhi (murine typhus; endemic typhus) and Rickettsia prowazekii (epidemic typhus).

 

R rickettsiae is the most common rickettsial species encountered in the United States and is transmitted through a tick vector (Dermacentor species or, less commonly, Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Following a 2- to 14-day incubation period, patients most commonly present with fever, chills, and myalgia. A maculopapular rash typically appears 2 to 5 days after fever onset, though approximately 10% of patients will not develop a rash. Antibodies to the spotted fever group agents are detectable within 7 to 10 days after illness onset. Demonstration of either seroconversion or a 4-fold change in IgG-specific antibody titers in acute and convalescent serum samples is consistent with acute or ongoing disease.

Interpretation

This test detects reactivity to the group-specific rickettsia. For example, antibody reactivity to the Rickettsia rickettsii will also react with other organisms within the spotted fever group.

 

IgG

Titer results of 1:256 and above:

-Serum end point titers of 1:256 and above are considered presumptive evidence of recent or current infection by organisms of appropriate rickettsial antigen group.

 

Titer results from 1:64 to 1:256:

-Single serum end point titers from 1:64 to 1:256 are suggestive of infection at an undetermined time and may indicate either past infection or early response to a recent rickettsial infection.

-A 4-fold or greater increase in IgG titer between 2 serum specimens collected 1 to 2 weeks apart and tested in parallel is considered presumptive evidence of a recent or current infection.

-In patients infected with organisms within the rickettsial groups, IgG antibody is generally detectable within 1 to 2 weeks of onset of symptoms, peaking within 1 to 2 months and declining thereafter. Following prompt antimicrobial treatment, titers generally decline below detectable levels within 8 to 11 months. With relapse, prior immunization, or delayed antibiotic treatment, IgG levels may remain elevated for more than a year post-onset.

 

IgM

Titer results of 1:64 and above:

-Titers of 1:64 and above are considered presumptive evidence of recent or current infection by organisms of appropriate rickettsial antigen group.

 

Titer results below 1:64:

-Titers below 1:64 suggest that the patient does not have an acute rickettsial infection.

-IgM class antibody is transiently detected within 1 to 2 weeks of onset of symptoms, usually declining rapidly within 3 months following prompt antibiotic treatment. These levels will also be elevated for an extended period with relapse, prior immunization, or delayed antibiotic treatment.

Method Description

Substrate slides containing antigen wells for measuring antibodies to both groups of Rickettsia (spotted fever and typhus) are obtained. The indirect immunofluorescence assay is a 2-stage "sandwich" procedure. In the first stage, the patient serum is diluted in yolk sac diluent. The diluted serum is placed on the slide in contact with the substrate and incubated. Following incubation, the slide is washed in buffered saline, which removes unbound serum antibodies. In the second stage, each antigen well is overlaid with fluorescein-labeled antibody to human IgG or IgM. The slide is incubated allowing antigen-antibody complexes to react with the fluorescein-labeled antihuman IgG or IgM. After the slide is washed, dried, and mounted, it is examined using fluorescence microscopy. Positive reactions appear as rickettsial bodies exhibiting bright apple-green cytoplasmic fluorescence against a background of orange to red yolk sac matrix. Semiquantitative end point titers are obtained by testing serial dilutions of positive specimens.(Package inserts: Rickettsia IFA IgM. DiaSorin Molecular LLC; 05/2018; Rickettsia IFA IgG. DiaSorin Molecular LLC; 05/2018)

Report Available

Same day/1 to 3 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject

Method Name

Immunofluorescence

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916) with the specimen.