Leptospira IgG & IgM Rapid

Bacterial/ Viral

Report in 8Hrs

At Home

No Fasting Required

Details

Detects IgG, IgM antibodies in the blood against Leptospira bacteria, which cause leptospirosis

₹599₹800

25% OFF

Leptospira IgG & IgM Rapid Test Information Guide

Why is it done?
- Detects antibodies (IgG and IgM) against Leptospira bacteria to diagnose leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease transmitted through contact with contaminated water or infected animal urine
- Performed in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of leptospirosis including fever, headache, muscle pain, chills, and jaundice
- Ordered when patients have history of exposure to contaminated water, occupational exposure (farmers, veterinarians, water workers), or during disease outbreaks
- Ideal for acute phase diagnosis (first 5-7 days of illness when IgM antibodies first appear) and for determining immunity or past infection (IgG antibodies)
- Provides rapid results (typically 10-30 minutes) compared to conventional serology, allowing for quick clinical decision-making and treatment initiation
Normal Range
- Normal/Negative Result: Absence of both IgG and IgM antibodies (reported as Negative or Non-Reactive on rapid test)
- Unit of Measurement: Qualitative result (Positive/Negative or Reactive/Non-Reactive) for IgG and IgM separately
- IgM Interpretation: Negative IgM indicates no acute or recent infection
- IgG Interpretation: Negative IgG indicates no past infection or immunity; or very early stage of infection (first 5 days)
- Interpretation Guide: Normal = Both IgG and IgM Negative; Abnormal = Presence of either IgG or IgM or both (indicates current or past infection)
Interpretation
- IgM Positive, IgG Negative: Suggests acute or recent leptospiral infection (typically within 5-10 days of symptom onset); patient is in the acute phase of disease and likely contagious
- IgM Positive, IgG Positive: Indicates either acute infection with immune response developing or re-infection; represents recent acute phase with secondary immune response
- IgM Negative, IgG Positive: Indicates past infection with immunity; patient has recovered from previous leptospiral infection and has protective antibodies
- IgM Negative, IgG Negative: No evidence of current or past leptospiral infection; if symptoms persist, repeat testing in 5-7 days may be warranted as antibodies may not yet be detectable in very early infection
- Factors Affecting Results: Timing of test relative to symptom onset (antibodies may not be detectable in first 3-5 days); immunocompromised patients may show delayed or weak antibody response; cross-reactivity with other serovars possible but rare
- Clinical Significance: Positive results combined with compatible clinical presentation and epidemiologic history strongly support leptospirosis diagnosis and warrant immediate antibiotic treatment (doxycycline or penicillin depending on severity)
- Sensitivity & Specificity: Rapid IgM/IgG tests typically show 85-95% sensitivity and 90-98% specificity; however, false negatives can occur in first week of illness; confirmation with MAT (Microscopic Agglutination Test) may be needed for definitive diagnosis
Associated Organs
- Primary Organ Systems Involved: Kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system; can affect multiple organ systems simultaneously in severe cases
- Leptospirosis-Associated Diseases: Mild leptospirosis (anicteric form) with fever, headache, and myalgia; severe leptospirosis presenting as Weil's disease with jaundice, acute kidney injury, pulmonary hemorrhage, and meningitis
- Renal Complications: Acute kidney injury with elevated creatinine and BUN; interstitial nephritis; potential progression to chronic kidney disease in severe cases
- Hepatic Complications: Hepatitis with elevated liver enzymes; jaundice; cholestasis; hepatomegaly; rarely hepatic failure in severe cases
- Pulmonary Complications: Pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); pneumonia; hemoptysis; respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation
- Neurological Complications: Aseptic meningitis; encephalitis; uveitis; cranial nerve palsies; Guillain-Barré syndrome in rare cases
- Cardiovascular Complications: Myocarditis; arrhythmias; hypotension; cardiogenic shock in severe cases; fulminant hepatic failure
- Long-term Sequelae: Chronic kidney disease; chronic uveitis leading to vision loss; persistent fatigue; neurological deficits; mortality rate 5-15% in untreated severe cases
Follow-up Tests
- Confirmatory Testing: MAT (Microscopic Agglutination Test) - gold standard for leptospirosis diagnosis; paired sera 2 weeks apart; PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for leptospiral DNA in first week of illness
- Blood Tests: Complete blood count (CBC); comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) including creatinine, BUN, liver enzymes; bilirubin; platelet count; prothrombin time (PT)
- Urine Tests: Urinalysis to detect leptospire in urine (leptospiruria); urine culture for leptospira; 24-hour urine protein to assess kidney function
- Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis: If meningitis is suspected; CSF culture and PCR for leptospira; protein, glucose, and cell count
- Imaging Studies: Chest X-ray to evaluate for pulmonary hemorrhage or respiratory involvement; abdominal ultrasound for hepatomegaly or other organ involvement; CT head if neurological symptoms present
- Serological Repeat Testing: If initial rapid test is negative but clinical suspicion remains high, repeat IgM/IgG testing in 5-7 days; second sample should show IgG seroconversion in confirmed cases
- Monitoring During Treatment: Serial creatinine and BUN every 2-3 days if kidney injury present; liver function tests to monitor hepatic recovery; repeated CBC to monitor platelet recovery
- Follow-up Ophthalmology: Eye examination if patient develops uveitis; monitoring for long-term vision complications
- Long-term Kidney Function Monitoring: Follow-up creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-infection to assess for chronic kidney disease development
Fasting Required?
- Fasting Requirement: No - Fasting is NOT required for the Leptospira IgG & IgM Rapid test
- Blood Sample Collection: Can be performed at any time of day; patient may eat and drink normally before the test; ideally a serum sample (approximately 2-5 mL) or sometimes plasma/whole blood depending on the rapid test platform
- Medications: No specific medications need to be avoided prior to test; antibiotics or other medications do not interfere with antibody detection; if patient is already on antibiotics, results may be affected if treated early (within first few days) as antibody response may be blunted
- Patient Preparation Instructions: Wear comfortable clothing with easy access to the arm for blood draw; inform healthcare provider of any bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulant medications; remain calm and relaxed during specimen collection
- Specimen Handling: Blood sample should be processed quickly; result available within 10-30 minutes for rapid immunochromatographic test; samples must be kept at appropriate temperature per kit instructions
- Optimal Timing for Test: Best performed after 5-10 days of symptom onset for IgM detection; IgG may be detectable after 5-7 days but typically peaks at 3-4 weeks; early testing (within first 3 days) may result in false negative despite active infection

How our test process works!