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Test Code CHLM Chlamydia IgM, Immunofluorescence, Serum


Ordering Guidance


For suspected Chlamydia trachomatis infection, order either CTRNA / Chlamydia trachomatis, Nucleic Acid Amplification, Varies or CGRNA / Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Nucleic Acid Amplification, Varies.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.3 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Secondary ID

619388

Useful For

Assessing IgM antibody levels to aid in the clinical diagnosis of Chlamydia pneumoniae or Chlamydia psittaci infections

Testing Algorithm

This test includes testing for Chlamydia pneumoniae IgM, and Chlamydia psittaci IgM

Method Name

Micro-Immunofluorescent Antibody (MIF) Assay

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.15 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 30 days
  Frozen  30 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus Reject
Heat-inactivated specimen Reject

Reference Values

Chlamydia pneumoniae

<1:10

 

Chlamydia psittaci

<1:10

Interpretation

Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia psittaci

≥1:10

IgM endpoint titers of 1:10 or more are considered presumptive evidence of infection.

 

<1:10

IgM endpoint titers below 1:10 suggest that the patient does not have a current infection. These antibody levels may be found in patients with either no history of chlamydial infection or those with past infection whose antibody levels have dropped below detectable levels.

Method Description

The microimmunofluorescent antibody assay is a 2-stage "sandwich" procedure. In the first stage, the patient serum is diluted in phosphate-buffered saline, added to appropriate slide wells in contact with the substrate, and incubated. After incubation, the slide is washed in buffered saline to remove unbound serum antibodies. In the second stage, each antigen well is overlaid with fluorescein-labeled antibody to IgM. The slide is incubated, allowing antigen-antibody complexes to react with the fluorescein-labeled anti-IgG. After the slide is washed, dried, and mounted, it is examined using fluorescence microscopy. Positive reactions appear as bright apple-green fluorescent elementary bodies with a background matrix of yolk sac. Semiquantitative endpoint titers are obtained by testing serial dilutions of positive specimens.(Schachter J. Chlamydiae [Psittacosis-Lymphogranuloma Venereum-Trachome Group]. In: Lennette E, Balows A, Hausler W, Shadomy H, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 4th ed. ASM Press; 1985: 856-861; Smith T. Chlamydia. In: Schmidt N, Emmons R, eds. Diagnostic procedures for viral, rickettsial and chlamydial infections. 6th ed. APHA; 1989: 1165-1198)

Day(s) Performed

Monday, Thursday

Report Available

Same day/1 to 4 days

Specimen Retention Time

14 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

CPT Code Information

86632 x 2

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
CHLM Chlamydia IgM, IFA, S 10849-8

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
619390 C. pneumoniae IgM In Process
619391 C. psittaci IgM In Process