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Effect of testing for IgG avidity in the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women: Experience in a US reference laboratory JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES Liesenfeld, O., Montoya, J. G., Kinney, S., Press, C., Remington, J. S. 2001; 183 (8): 1248-1253

Abstract

The usefulness of testing for IgG avidity in association with Toxoplasma gondii was evaluated in a US reference laboratory. European investigators have reported that high-avidity IgG toxoplasma antibodies exclude acute infection in the preceding 3 months. In this US study, 125 serum samples taken from 125 pregnant women in the first trimester were chosen retrospectively, because either the IgM or differential agglutination (AC/HS) test in the Toxoplasma serologic profile suggested or was equivocal for a recently acquired infection. Of 93 (74.4%) serum samples with either positive or equivocal results in the IgM ELISA, 52 (55.9%) had high-avidity antibodies, which suggests that the infection probably was acquired before gestation. Of 87 (69.6%) serum samples with an acute or equivocal result in the AC/HS test, 35 (40.2%) had high-avidity antibodies. Forty women were given spiramycin, to prevent congenital transmission, and 7 (17.5%) had high-avidity antibodies. These findings highlight the value of testing a single serum sample obtained in the first trimester of pregnancy for IgG avidity.

View details for Web of Science ID 000167674600010

View details for PubMedID 11262207