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🧪 What is the Leptospira IgM Rapid Test?

The Leptospira IgM Rapid Test is a point-of-care, lateral flow immunoassay used to detect IgM antibodies against Leptospira in whole blood, serum, or plasma.

IgM antibodies appear 3–7 days after infection.
A positive result indicates a recent or active infection.
The test provides quick results (within 15–20 minutes) and is useful in emergency or low-resource settings.

❓ Why is the Test Done?

To:

Rapidly diagnose acute leptospirosis, especially in areas with limited access to lab facilities
Identify early infection during outbreaks, especially in monsoon/flood seasons
Support diagnosis in symptomatic individuals (e.g., fever, jaundice, kidney symptoms)

📊 Interpretation of Results

Result	Meaning
Positive	Recent or current leptospiral infection
Negative	No detectable IgM, very early or no infection

False negatives may occur in the very early stage (<3 days) or immunocompromised patients.
False positives are possible due to cross-reactivity with other infections (e.g., dengue, malaria).

📈 Clinical Timeline of IgM Appearance

Infection Stage	IgM Result	Remarks
0–3 Days	Likely Negative	Antibodies not yet detectable
4–10 Days	Positive	Peak IgM response
>2 Weeks	Positive	May persist for weeks/months

🧠 Associated Organs & Complications

Organ/System	Associated Complications
Kidneys	Acute kidney injury (Weil’s disease)
Liver	Hepatitis, jaundice
Lungs	Pulmonary hemorrhage, ARDS
CNS	Aseptic meningitis, encephalitis
Eyes	Uveitis, conjunctival suffusion

🔄 Related / Follow-Up Tests

Leptospira IgG – for past or prolonged infection
Leptospira IgM ELISA – confirmation
PCR for Leptospira DNA – early/acute detection
MAT (Microscopic Agglutination Test) – gold standard
Liver and Renal Function Tests (LFT, KFT)
CBC – for thrombocytopenia or leukocytosis

✅ Fasting Required?

Test	Fasting Requirement
Leptospira IgM Rapid	❌ No

📝 Summary Table

Parameter	Details
What	Rapid test to detect IgM antibodies to Leptospira
Why	Early diagnosis of acute leptospirosis
Positive Result	Indicates recent/active infection
Negative Result	No infection or very early stage
Follow-up Tests	IgG, ELISA, PCR, MAT, LFT, KFT, CBC
Organs Affected	Liver, kidneys, lungs, CNS
Fasting Required	❌ No