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Selective antenatal screening for toxoplasmosis and the latex agglutination test

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

R. E. Holliman
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service, Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory, St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK
K. F. Barker
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service, Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory, St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK
J. D. Johnson
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service, Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory, St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK
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Summary

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Recent publicity concerning congenital toxoplasmosis has generated a demand for serological assessment of pregnant women. Many laboratories are requested to undertake primary screening in these cases. We assessed the latex agglutination test (LAT) findings in 158 specimens with detectable toxoplasma specific IgM derived from pregnant women. The LAT titres ranged from 16 to ≥ 4000 reflecting the variable antibody response observed in acute toxoplasmosis. We recommend that non-reference laboratories test specimens from pregnant women using the LAT at a screening dilution of 1:16 and select all reactive samples for detailed investigation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

References

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