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    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.


    Clinical Laboratory Scientists
    Photo of Judy Beatty
    Judy Beatty
    Not pictured
    Helen Canevari
    Not pictured
    Bernadett Domingo
    Photo of Margie Kuruma
    Margie Kuruma
    Photo of Kathleen Messing
    Kathleen Messing
    Photo of Cindy Press
    Cindy Press, Laboratory Manager
    Photo of Raymund Ramirez
    Raymund Ramirez

    Click test name for information

    Effective: January 2013

    • IgG (Dye Test)
    • IgM ELISA (for patients 6 months of age or older)
    • IgM ISAGA (for patients less than 6 months of age)
    • IgA ELISA
    • AC/HS (Differential Agglutination)  
    • IgE ELISA (offered as component of Toxo Panels only)
    • Avidity (IgG (Dye test) and IgM ELISA will also be performed)
    • PCR
    • Isolation
    • IgG/IgM Toxo Panel
    • Toxoplasma Pregnancy Panel (16 weeks gestation or earlier)
    • Toxoplasma Pregnancy Panel (more than 16 weeks gestation)
    • Toxoplasma Infant Panel: (less than 6 months of age)
    • Toxoplasma Panel: (6 months of age or older)

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    IgG (Dye Test)

    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.

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    IgM ELISA
    (for patients 6 months of age or older)

    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

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    IgM ISAGA
    (for patients less than 6 months of age)

    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

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    IgA ELISA

    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

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    IgE ELISA
    (offered as component of Toxo Panels only)

    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

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    AC/HS (Differential Agglutination)

    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

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    Avidity (IgG (Dye test) and IgM ELISA will also be performed)

    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

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    PCR

    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

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    Isolation

    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.

    PANELS

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    IgG/IgM Toxo Panel:

    • IgG (Dye Test), IgM ELISA or IgM ISAGA

    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

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    Toxoplasma Pregnancy Panel (16 weeks gestation or earlier):

    • IgG (Dye Test), IgM ELISA, Avidity

    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

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    Toxoplasma Pregnancy Panel (more than 16 weeks gestation):

    • IgG (Dye Test), IgM ELISA, AC/HS

    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

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    Toxoplasma Infant Panel: (less than 6 months of age)

    • IgG (Dye Test), IgM ISAGA, IgA ELISA

    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

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    Toxoplasma Panel: (6 months of age or older)

    • IgG (Dye Test), IgM ELISA, IgA ELISA, IgE ELISA, AC/HS

    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

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