LEPTOSPIRA ANTIBODIES
- Code
- 000.0000
- Name
- LEPTOSPIRA ANTIBODIES
- Category
- None
- Department
- Send-Out
- Start Date
- Expiration Date
- Synonyms
- CPT Codes
- 86720
- Site
- SBMF
- Reference Test
- 44227
Specimen Information
- Type
Gold, SST
- Volume
1.0 ml
- Transport Info
Centrifuge and immediately transfer serum to separate plastic tube
Refrigerated- Fasting Required?
- False
- Patient Instructions
- Reference Range
Less than 1:50 = No antibody detected.
1:50 = Borderline positive: patients should be evaluated for clinical correlation with active or recent leptospirosis. Suggest repeat testing in 2-3 weeks.
1:100 = Positive: Suggestive of current or recent leptospirosis.- Methodology
Indirect Hemagglutination
Clinical Significance
Diagnosis of leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of worldwide prevalence caused by the organism Leptospira biflexa. Although wild mammals (e.g., rodents) serve as a primary natural reservoir, domestic animals (dogs, cattle, swine, horses, etc.) serve as a major source of human infection. Most often transmission is indirect, by human contact with soil, food, or water contaminated by urine from an infected animal. Leptospirosis is probably initiated by entry of the organisms through breaks in the skin or intact mucosa. Leptospiremia follows after an 8-12 day incubation period. Initial clinical symptoms include fever, chills, headache, conjunctivitis, myalgia, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The fever is typically biphasic, initially lasting 4-9 days, followed after a 1-3 day afebrile interval by a secondary febrile phase. Jaundice occurs infrequently in the U.S., although leptospiral meningitis occurs more frequently, accounting for 5-13% of sporadic lymphocytic meningitis cases. The laboratory diagnosis of leptospirosis is complicated by the fact that the organism is fastidious and slow-growing, occasionally requiring weeks to grow. In this context, serology represents an acceptable alternative that may be more timely.