Toxoplasma Serology Lab Test Menu & Information

Important Note:

Testing must be ordered by a physician. Results can only be reported to the ordering physician or the referring laboratory. Patients desiring testing and/or test results are advised to consult their physician. We require specimen tubes to be labeled with the patient's name (first and last) and collection date. Unlabeled tubes will not be accepted for testing.  We also cannot test grossly hemolyzed samples.

Reference range:

negative < 1:16; positive > 1:16

Specimen:

serum, CSF

Volume:

0.5 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

86777

Fee:

$134

Method Reference:

Sabin AB, Feldman HA. Dyes as microchemical indicators of a new immunity phenomenon affecting a protozoan parasite (Toxoplasma). Science 108:660-663, 1948.

Reference range:

negative 0.0-1.4, equivocal 1.7-1.9, positive > 2.0 (serum); negative 0.0 - 0.3, positive > 0.4 (CSF)

Specimen:

serum, CSF

Volume:

0.5 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

86778

Fee:

$141

Method Reference:

Naot Y, Remington J. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii : use for diagnosis of acute acquired toxoplasmosis. J Infect Dis 142:757-766, 1980

Reference range:

reported as positive or negative

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

0.5 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

86778

Fee:

$141

Method Reference:

Desmonts G, Naot Y, Remington JS. Immunoglobulin M immunosorbent agglutination assay for diagnosis of acute congenital and acquired toxoplasma infections. J Clin Microbiol 14:486-491, 1981

Reference range:

Patient > 6 months of age: negative 0.0 - 1.4, equivocal 1.5 - 2.0,
positive > 2.1

Infants < 6 months of age: negative 0.0 - 0.9, positive > 1.0

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

0.5 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

86777-59

Fee:

$140

Method Reference:

Stepick-Biek P, Thulliez P, Araujo F, Remington JS. IgA antibodies for diagnosis of acute congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis. J Infect Dis 162:270-273, 1990

Reference range:

reported as negative, equivocal or positive

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

0.5 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

86777-59

Fee:

$140

Method Reference:

Wong S, Hadju M, Ramirez R, Thulliez P, McLeod R, Remington JS. Role of specific immunoglobulin E in diagnosis of acute toxoplasma infection and toxoplasmosis. J Clin Microbiol 31:2952-2959, 1993

Reference range:

(refer to table)

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

0.5 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

86406 (2 units)

Fee:

$157

Method Reference:

Danneman B, Vaughn W, Thulliez P, Remington JS. Differential agglutination test for diagnosis of recently acquired infection with Toxoplasma gondii. J Clin Microbiol 28:1928-1933, 1990

Reference range:

high avidity excludes infection within the previous 4 months

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

0.5 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

86777-59

Fee:

$414 (Includes fee for IgG (Dye test) and IgM ELISA)

Method Reference:

Pelloux, H. et al. Determination of anti-Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G avidity: adaption to the Vidas system (bioMérieux). Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 32: 69-73, 1998

Reference range:

reported as "toxoplasma DNA detected" or "toxoplasma DNA not detected"

Specimen:

(refer to PCR Specimen Requirements table)

Volume:

(refer to PCR Specimen Requirements table)

Transport temperature:

(refer to PCR Specimen Requirements table)

CPT code:

87798

Fee:

$389-$418 (refer to Fee Schedule)

Method References:

Grover C, Thulliez P, Remington J, Boothroyd J. Rapid prenatal diagnosis of congenital Toxoplasma infection by using polymerase chain reaction and amniotic fluid. J Clin Microbiol 28:2297-2301, 1990.

Parmley S, Goebel F, Remington JS. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in cerebro-spinal fluid from AIDS patients by polymerase chain reaction. J Clin Microbiol 30:3000-3002, 1992

Reference range:

reported as positive or negative

Specimen:

whole blood (EDTA or Citrate preferred), amniotic fluid, placenta and other tissues

NOTE: Specimens must not be frozen or placed in formalin or other fixative. Inoculations are recommended within 48 hours of specimen collection date. Results available in six weeks.

Volume:

3 ml (fluids); 1 g (solid tissues)

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C.

CPT code:

87003

Fee:

$483

Method Reference:

Remington J.S., McLeod R., Thulliez P., Desmonts G. Toxoplasmosis.

In Remington J.S., Wilson C.B., Baker C.J. and Klein, J.O. (eds.) Infectious Diseases of the Fetus and Newborn Infant, Sixth Edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders Company, 2006, pp 1009-1010.

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

0.5 to 1.0 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

Refer to individual tests above

Fee:

$267

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

0.5 to 1.0 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

Refer to individual tests above

Fee:

$414

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

0.5 to 1.0 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

Refer to individual tests above

Fee:

$424

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

1.0 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

Refer to individual tests above

Fee:

$394

Specimen:

serum

Volume:

2.0 ml

Transport temperature:

2 – 8° C. (preferred); ambient or frozen (acceptable)

CPT code:

Refer to individual tests above

Fee:

$626