Positive IgM test in Toxoplasma

What is it about?

A positive Toxoplasma immunoglobulin M (IgM) result is often interpreted as a marker of an acute infection. However, IgM can persist for several years, and Toxoplasma commercial IgM diagnostic test kits can yield a number of false-positive results. For these reasons, a chronic Toxoplasma infection can be erroneously classified as an acute infection, resulting in serious adverse consequences, especially in pregnant women, leading to emotional distress and unnecessary interventions, including termination of pregnancy. Interpretation of Toxoplasma serology at a reference laboratory can help differentiate a recently acquired infection from a chronic infection.

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Why is it important?

Our findings show that positive Toxoplasma IgM and IgG test results obtained at Non Reference Laboratories(NRL)cannot accurately distinguish between acute and chronic Toxoplasmis.Therefore,confirmatory testing at a reference laboratory is required to make an accurate diagnosis.