R. rickettsii & R. typhi IgG IFA (965)

The Rickettsia Immunofluorescent Assay (IFA) is designed to detect Rickettsia-specific antibodies in human serum. For diagnostic purposes, IFA test results should be used in conjunction with other data available to the diagnosing physician.

The Rickettsia IFA is used to detect antibodies to Rickettsia species in human serum. These species include R. ricketsii and R. typhi, known to cause Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Murine Typhus, respectively. Titers rise during the first two-to-four weeks of illness and decline over the next six-to-12 months. In patients with previously high titers, titers of less than 160 may indicate a resolving infection. If the IFA result is negative but the clinical symptoms are present, PCR testing is suggested.

Principle: The Rickettsia IFA assay is a two-stage sandwich assay, based upon an antigen-antibody complex formation in the following steps:

1. Binding of anti-Rickettsia-specific antibodies in human serum to fixed Rickettsia.
2. Binding of fluorescent-labeled anti-human IgG/IgM antibodies to the human anti Rickettsia antibodies bound to Rickettsia on the slide.
3. Identifying green fluorescing Rickettsia organisms with a fluorescent microscope.
4. Microscopic image of bacteria from Rickettsia diagnosis.

Stage of Disease: Early Disease, Late Disease

Test Methodology: IFA