Test Catalog

Test Id : BABG

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Babesia microti IgG Antibodies, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

An adjunct in the diagnosis of babesiosis

 

Follow-up of documented babesiosis

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

For more information see Acute Tick-Borne Disease Testing Algorithm.

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Babesia microti IgG Ab, S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Babesiosis Serology

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

For more information see Acute Tick-Borne Disease Testing Algorithm.

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

0.4 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Heat-inactivated specimen Reject

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
Frozen 14 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

An adjunct in the diagnosis of babesiosis

 

Follow-up of documented babesiosis

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

For more information see Acute Tick-Borne Disease Testing Algorithm.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Babesiosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Babesia microti. The infection is acquired by contact with Ixodes ticks carrying the parasite. The deer mouse is the animal reservoir, and overall, the epidemiology of this infection is much like that of Lyme disease. Babesiosis is most prevalent in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and Pacific Coast of the United States.

 

Infectious forms (sporozoites) are injected during tick bites, and the organism enters the vascular system where it infects red blood cells (RBC). During this intraerythrocytic stage, it becomes disseminated throughout the reticuloendothelial system. Asexual reproduction occurs in RBC, and daughter cells (merozoites) are formed that are liberated on rupture (hemolysis) of the RBC.

 

Most cases of babesiosis are subclinical or mild, but the infection can be severe and life-threatening, especially in older or asplenic patients. Fever, fatigue, malaise, headache, and other flu-like symptoms occur most commonly. In the most severe cases, hemolysis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock may develop. Patients may have hepatomegaly and splenomegaly.

 

A serologic test can be used as an adjunct in the diagnosis and follow-up of babesiosis, when infection is chronic or persistent, or in seroepidemiologic surveys of the prevalence of the infection in certain populations. Babesiosis is usually diagnosed by observing the organisms in infected RBC on Giemsa-stained thin blood films of smeared peripheral blood. Serology may also be useful if the parasitemia is too low to detect or if the infection has cleared naturally or following treatment.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

<1:64

Reference values apply to all ages.

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

A positive result of an indirect fluorescent antibody test (titer > or =1:64) suggests current or previous infection with Babesia microti. In general, the higher the titer, the more likely it is that the patient has an active infection. Patients with documented infections have usually had titers ranging from 1:320 to 1:2560.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Previous episodes of babesiosis may produce a positive serologic result.

 

In selected cases, documentation of infection may be attempted by animal inoculation or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods (LBAB / Babesia species, Molecular Detection, PCR, Blood).

 

Performance characteristics have not been established for the following specimen characteristics:

-Lipemic

-Hemolyzed

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Spach DH, Liles WC, Campbell GL, Quick RE, Anderson Jr DE, Fritsche TR. Tick-borne diseases in the United States. N Engl J Med. 1993;329(13):936-947

2. Vannier E, Gelfand JA. Babesia species. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020:3400-3409

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The patient’s serum is diluted and is placed in microscopic slide wells, which have been coated with Babesia microti-infected red blood cells from Syrian hamsters. After incubation, the slides are washed and a fluorescein-isothiocyanate conjugate is added to each well. The slides are then read using a fluorescence microscope and significant fluorescent staining of intraerythrocytic organisms constitutes a positive reaction.(Krause PJ, Telford III SR, Ryan R, et al. Diagnosis of babesiosis: Evaluation of a serologic test for the detection of Babesia microti antibody. J Infect Dis. 1994;169[4]:923-926; package insert: Babesia IFA IgG. DiaSorin Molecular; 8/12/2016)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

Same day/1 to 3 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test was developed using an analyte specific reagent. Its performance characteristics were determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

86753

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
BABG Babesia microti IgG Ab, S 16117-4
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
81128 Babesia microti IgG Ab, S 16117-4

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports

Test Update Resources

Change Type Effective Date
Test Status - Test Resumed 2024-08-30
Test Status - Test Down 2024-07-24
Test Status - Test Resumed 2024-02-08
Test Status - Test Down 2023-12-20