Titres <80 eliminate a diagnosis of invasive amoebiasis.
Test performed daily, Monday to Friday. Analysis time 4 hours.
Infection with the intestinal parasite Entamoeba histolytica is common. This infection results in acute diarrhoea illness, the Entamoeba histolytica infection is usually confined to the colon, but other organs such as the liver may be involved. The vast majority of patients with invasive amoebic infection develop circulating antibodies within 1 week of the onset of infection.
Titres of >320 are significant. Patients with titres and most likely represent E. histolytica infection.
Titres of 80-160 are doubtful and may need to be supported by another method, e.g. immunofuoresence.
Titres of 1280 or greater are consistent with invasive amoebiasis, provided a recent disease episode has been excluded. Antibody titres can remain high for years after successful therapy. Titres of <80 are not significant.
The indirect haemagglutination test (IHA) has a sensitivity approaching 95% for amoebic liver abscess and 84% for invasive intestinal disease. The sensitivity for intestinal carriage is only 8%.
References
EliTECH Fumoze product insert.
For further information contact the laboratory, (09) 307 4949 ext 22103 or:
Associate Professor Rohan Ameratunga
, Immunopathologist: Locator
93-5724,