Serology

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Normally, no antibodies are found in the blood sample.

Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Detection of antibodies can be used to either diagnose an active or previous infection, or to determine if you are immune to reinfection by an organism. As the disease gets worse, more antibodies will be present. If a disease is suspected, the test may need to be repeated 10 days to 2 weeks after the first test.

If antibodies are found, you may:

• Have a current infection
• Have been infected in the past
• Have immunity to a certain organism and are unlikely to become sick

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Some of the different diseases that can be detected include:

• Amebiasis
• Anthrax
• Brucellosis
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Fungal infection
• Measles
• Rubella
• RSV
• Syphilis
• Tularemia
• Viral hepatitis (various types)

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• Amebic liver abscess
• Fifth disease
• Fungal arthritis
• Meningitis, cryptococcal
• Meningitis, H. influenza
• Meningitis , meningococcal
• Viral arthritis

Review Date: 12/01/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).