How to test for polio antibodies. Poliomyelitis Serological test for antibodies to polio
Poliomyelitis is an acute infectious disease that causes serious damage to the central nervous system. The disease causes the formation of damage to the lining of the brain (meningitis) or complete/partial paralysis of the patient.
The disease is especially often diagnosed in childhood - from 3 months to 5 years - which is why all children, without exception, undergo the vaccination procedure. In older children, the body's susceptibility to the virus is significantly reduced. And in case of infection, the disease passes easily, and the symptoms of the pathology are almost completely absent.
Testing for antibodies to polio at a stage prior to the development of paralysis excludes diseases such as influenza, ARVI, or intestinal infection. Serological blood testing allows you to identify antibodies to the polio antigen, determine their types and concentration.
Symptoms of the disease
Poliomyelitis belongs to a group of highly contagious (infectious) pathologies, the causative agent of which is the intestinal virus Poliovirus homini. The typical route of infection is the fecal-oral route. Transmission is possible through dirty hands and toys, poorly processed products. The first manifestations of the disease appear two weeks after the child comes into contact with the virus carrier.
Poliomyelitis typically has an acute onset, reminiscent of the flu:
- temperature rise to high levels;
- cough;
- runny nose;
- apathy and lethargy;
- deterioration or complete lack of appetite;
- tearfulness and irritability;
- stomach ache.
Timely vaccination against polio will help prevent infection
A few days after the onset of the disease, the child begins to feel better. But later - a week after the condition stabilized - the symptoms return. The clinical picture is complemented by paralysis of various muscle groups - legs and arms, face, intercostal muscles and diaphragm. Damage to the respiratory and vasomotor centers poses a particular danger to the child and his life.
When is the study ordered?
The main indication for performing a blood test for antibodies is the differential diagnosis of polio. An immunological test will be recommended in the following cases:
- when identifying signs of a central nervous system disorder;
- increased sensitivity of the skin;
- muscle hypotension;
- decreased reflexes.
Analysis Methods
To conduct the study, venous blood is taken. It is best to visit the laboratory in the morning. It is necessary to try to reduce not only the physical, but also the emotional activity of the baby.
Blood testing is based on the acid-base titration technique, i.e., the neutralization reaction. When a result is obtained, when the titer of immune antibodies is less than 1:4, it is considered negative and confirms that the patient does not have polio.
The titer of class M antibodies is of diagnostic interest. If the study indicates that it exceeds more than 1:4, then the result is positive and indicates the presence of the Poliovirus homini virus in the human body.
Antibodies to polio appear in the blood already on the seventh day after the virus enters the baby’s body
Specific IgM immunoglobulins are formed in the baby’s blood within a week after infection. Their maximum is determined after 14 days and persists for the next 60 days. After recovery, the child develops specific antibodies of class G, thanks to which he develops stable lifelong immunity to polio.
Where can I get the analysis done?
Before vaccination, you need to make sure whether your child needs vaccination or not. That is why he may be prescribed a blood test to determine antibodies to polio. But in some cases, the research may be uninformative.
If the child is less than six months old and receives breast milk, then protective antibodies are transferred to him from the mother. During the period of life from six months to a year, all the protective antibodies he receives are retained in the baby’s blood.
Blood tests can be carried out both in a public clinic and in a private medical center
A pediatrician will help you decide when to vaccinate against polio and, if necessary, prescribe a blood test.
Where can I get tested? You can donate blood for testing either in the treatment room of a district clinic, or you can go to a private medical laboratory or center. In particular, an antibody test can be taken at the Invitro laboratory at the time of direct application.
How to prepare your child for testing
The need for a test is determined by the attending doctor or local pediatrician. A similar need arises if the child’s medical record does not contain information about certain vaccinations or it has been lost. A referral to the treatment room is issued by a pediatrician.
Preparing to donate blood is quite simple:
- collection of biological material is performed on an empty stomach;
- The procedure is best carried out in the morning - from 7 to 11.
Today, vaccination is the only possible way to prevent polio infection in children of all ages.
Poliomyelitis is an acute viral disease that can lead to death or severe damage to the central nervous system. Mass vaccination has made significant progress in the fight against this disease. However, it still remains endemic in several countries in Africa and Asia. Outbreaks of the disease have been recorded in recent years in states bordering Russia.
Immunity to polio
Having immunity to polio reduces the likelihood of getting sick to a minimum. Vaccination allows the body to develop such resistance to infection. However, even if all measures have been taken, over time the body’s immune defense may weaken. Persistent immunity is developed in persons who have had the disease or been vaccinated with a live vaccine.To find out whether a person has antibodies to the polio virus, a serological blood test is performed. This study allows you to determine the risk of infection when exposed to the virus. Typically, an antibody test is performed before traveling to regions where cases of polio have been reported.
Where can I get an antibody test?
Testing for antibodies to the polio virus is performed in government and commercial laboratories. The study is not very popular, so it is not carried out in all medical centers. To find out where exactly the test can be done in your city, consult with your local doctor or a specialist at the sanitary-epidemiological station.In government institutions, the study is performed when indicated. A referral for a free test can be given by an infectious disease specialist at a local clinic. In paid centers, the cost of determining antibodies to polio varies from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles.
How to get tested for polio antibodies
For the qualitative and quantitative determination of antibodies to the polio virus, the enzyme immunoassay method is used. Antibodies are detected in serum or plasma. The result ranges from 0 to 150 U/ml. If the titer is above 12 U/ml, we can talk about the presence of immunity to infection.It is better to come for the study in the morning before your first meal. In a patient from a vein. It is believed that 0.5-1 ml of blood is sufficient for diagnosis. Paid analysis is completed within 1-2 business days, free analysis within two weeks.
Blood test for polio
Poliomyelitis is an acute, highly contagious infection that causes spinal paralysis. Its causative agent is Poliovirus homini- belongs to the family of intestinal viruses, most often children under five years of age are susceptible to the disease. Infection occurs through the fecal-oral route (through dirty hands, toys, poorly processed food) from a sick child or an asymptomatic virus carrier. The first clinical manifestations can be noticed in the baby two weeks after infection.
The disease begins acutely - polio symptoms Similar to the flu:
- temperature rise to 39.5 °C;
- cough;
- runny nose;
- lethargy;
- decreased appetite;
- tearfulness;
- pain in the abdomen.
Diagnosis of polio at the pre-paralysis stage presents difficulties: most often, the diagnosis of influenza, intestinal infection, or acute respiratory viral infection is mistakenly made. Timely clinical delimitation of diseases is based on serological diagnostics
- detection of specific antibodies to the antigen in the child’s circulating blood Poliovirus homini, determining their type and concentration.
When is a test ordered?
The main indication for the study is differential diagnosing a child with polio. Practicing specialists - pediatricians, infectious disease specialists, neurologists recommend immunological analysis if a small patient has:
- signs of nervous system dysfunction;
- skin hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity);
- hypotension;
- decreased reflexes.
Analysis methodology
Biological material - blood from a vein, the selection is carried out at the medical center in the morning. On the eve of the analysis, it is recommended to reduce the child’s physical and emotional activity; blood is drawn on an empty stomach.
To conduct the study, the method of enzyme immunoassay is used.
Diagnosticum made in Germany, "IBL".
Analysis transcript
The result of the analysis should be considered only by the attending physician in conjunction with the clinical picture, the patient’s medical history and indicators of other laboratory tests.
This laboratory test allows you to identify IgG antibodies to three types of Poliovirus simultaneously (in total):
- Type 1 (Brunhilde);
- Type 2 (Lansing);
- Type 3 (Leon).
Reference values:
- < 8 Ед/мл - is considered a negative result and indicates that the child does not have polio.
- 8-12 U/ml- uncertain. If clinical symptoms persist, it is recommended to retest the serum sample after 10-14 days.
- > 12 U/ml- positive (i.e. indicates infection Poliovirus homini ).
Polio
Poliomyelitis– infections caused by viruses of the Enterovirus genus are widespread throughout the world. Infection with poliovirus causes illness, often leading to paralysis and even death. Three types of poliovirus are actually pathogenic for humans:
Type 1 (Brunhilde) – often with severe symptoms;
Type 2 (Lansing) – with milder symptoms;
Type 3 (Leon) – rare, but with severe symptoms;
Polioviruses enter the human body mainly through the fecal-oral route through handshakes, contaminated objects, water or food, as well as through airborne droplets through the respiratory tract. Having fixed itself on the cells of the pharynx and intestines, the virus begins to multiply and occupy the lymph nodes of the small intestine, from where it safely enters the blood. In the next phase of viremia, poliovirus colonizes almost the entire body and, in particular, the central nervous system (CNS).
More than 90% of infected patients do not experience any subjective symptoms. In other cases, there may be complaints of headache, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and increased body temperature. Classic paralysis with pain in the muscles and nerves of the spinal cord is very rarely observed. The recovery period can last up to two years, but the resulting damage often cannot be eliminated. There is no specific treatment for polio. Only symptomatic therapy and, if possible, exercise are indicated.
The disease begins acutely - the symptoms of polio are similar to the flu:
- temperature increase up to 40 °C;
- cough;
- headaches;
- runny nose;
- lethargy;
- decreased appetite;
- vomit;
- muscle pain.
If a sick child has the following main signs, the doctor recommends an immunological test:
- skin hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity);
- hypotension;
- decreased reflexes.
- signs of nervous system dysfunction;
- Type 1 (Brunhilde)
- Type 3 (Leon).
Reference values:
- < 8 Ед/мл - считается отрицательным результатом(свидетельствует об отсутствии у ребенка полиомиелита).
- 8-12 U/ml - indeterminate. (If clinical symptoms persist, it is recommended to retest the blood serum sample after 10-14 days).
- > 12 U/ml - positive (i.e., indicates infection with Poliovirus homini).
The response of a serological test can be either a consequence of a previous illness or immunity due to vaccination.
After an infection, the child develops specific class G antibodies, which provide lifelong immunity.
The result of the analysis should be considered only by the attending physician in conjunction with the clinical picture, the patient’s medical history and indicators of other laboratory tests.
You can perform an analysis for the qualitative and quantitative determination of IgG antibodies to the polio virus in the GEMOSKRIN laboratory.
Detailed information by phone: 8495-953-27-57.
