Echinococcus Antibody, IgG
Also known as: ECHINO IGG
Use
The Echinococcus Antibody IgG test serves as an adjunct to other diagnostic methods such as imaging to diagnose echinococcosis. It is particularly useful in patients with a relevant travel history who may have been exposed to Echinococcus species, the causative agents of echinococcosis. The detection of IgG antibodies against Echinococcus can indicate a current or past infection with this parasite, which is predominantly found in areas where livestock is more frequently infected.
Special Instructions
To ensure accurate results, it's important to consider the patient’s travel history. Parallel testing is preferred, and convalescent specimens should be received within 30 days of the acute specimen collection. Specimens must be clearly marked as acute or convalescent to facilitate proper interpretation.
Limitations
The test may produce false-positive results in patients with conditions such as collagen vascular diseases, hepatic cirrhosis, schistosomiasis, and other parasitic infections. There is also a strong cross-reaction between echinococcosis-positive and cysticercosis-positive sera. Accurate interpretation requires considering potential seroconversion, which is evidenced by a significant change in antibody levels between acute and convalescent sera when both tests are conducted at the same laboratory and time.
Methodology
Immunoassay (ELISA)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 9656-0
Result Turnaround Time
1-8 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
1 mL
Minimum Volume
0.15 mL
Container
Serum separator tube (SST) or plain red
Collection Instructions
Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum to an ARUP standard transport tube.
Storage Instructions
Preferred transport temp: Refrigerated. Also acceptable: Frozen
Causes for Rejection
Contaminated, heat-inactivated, grossly hemolyzed, or severely lipemic specimens.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 48 hours |
| Refrigerated | 2 weeks |
| Frozen | 1 month (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles) |
