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Chlamydia Antibody Panel, IgG and IgM

Chlamydia Serology

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5970, Beaker: XCHAB, Mayo: SCLAM

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• This panel includes:
• C. pneumoniae IgG.
• C. pneumoniae IgM.
• C. psittaci IgG.
• C. psittaci IgM.
• C. trachomatis IgG.
• C. trachomatis IgM.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 0.2 mL serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.15 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Hyperlipemic specimens.
• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated. 

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Transport: 0.2 mL serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.15 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 30 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 30 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester, MN.

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available in 2-5 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Micro-Immunofluorescent Antibody (MIF) Assay.

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

This assay aids in the differential diagnosis of Chlamydia infections.

C. trachomatis is the leading cause of sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. with 3-5 million new cases occurring each year. There is no seasonal variation in the incidence of C. trachomatis infections (1).

C. pneumoniae is a respiratory tract pathogen that causes sporadic cases of pneumonia throughout the world. Seroepidemiologic surveys have shown that 30-50% of the general population has antibodies to C. pneumoniae. These antibodies are rarely seen in children below the age of 2 years, but the prevalence increases after 5 years of age. At 10 years of age, approximately 10% of the population has antibodies to C. pneumonia and the prevalence plateaus at 30-50% by 30 years of age. Approximately 70% of persons over the age of 60 have antibody to C. pneumoniae (1).

C. psittaci causes sporadic disease and 40-60 psittacosis/ornithosis cases are reported annually in the U.S. Psittacosis has a worldwide distribution. Owners of pet birds, pet shop employees, and workers in turkey processing plants are at higher risk of acquiring the disease than the general population. Re-infections have been described. There is no record of infection acquired by handling dressed, eviscerated birds or by eating poultry products (1).

Reference

1. Wiedbrauk D, Johnston SLG. Manual of Clinical Virology, Raven Press, New York,NY, 1993.

CPT Codes

86631 x3; 86632 x3.

Contacts

Last Updated

8/16/2023