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Brucellosis (also called undulant fever, Malta fever, Mediterranean fever) is a major bacterial zoonosis involving many mammals, including domestic cows (Brucella abortus), pigs (B. suis), goats/sheep (B. melitensis), and dogs (B. canis). The disease is also found in wild ruminant mammals such as deer, elk, and moose.
Tests generally appear in the order most useful for common clinical situations
| Test name: CBC with Platelet Count and Automated Differential |
| ARUP #: 0040003 |
| Methodology: Automated Cell Count/Differential |
| Use: Order to differentiate bacterial from viral etiology |
| Test name: Sedimentation Rate, Westergren (ESR) |
| ARUP #: 0040325 |
| Methodology: Visual Identification |
| Use: Determine if elevated as an indicator of endocarditis |
| Test name: Hepatic Function Panel |
| ARUP #: 0020416 |
| Methodology: Quantitative Enzymatic/Quantitative Spectrophotometry |
| Use: Test for presence of hepatitis Panel includes albumin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin direct, protein total, bilirubin total |
| Test name: Brucella Culture |
| ARUP #: 0060159 |
| Methodology: Culture/Identification |
| Use: Gold standard for detection of Brucella in blood (optimum), CSF, body fluids, and abscesses |
| Limitations: Time intensive Because isolation of organism is difficult, serologic tests are generally used for diagnosis |
| Test name: Brucella Antibody (Total) by Agglutination |
| ARUP #: 0050135 |
| Methodology: Semi-Quantitative Agglutination |
| Use: Diagnose brucellosis in serum samples from patients with congruent clinical history |
| Limitations: Cross-reactions may occur between Brucella and Francisella tularensis antigens and antisera; parallel tests should be run with these antigens |
| Test name: Organism Identification by 16S rDNA Sequencing |
| ARUP #: 0060720 |
| Methodology: 16S rDNA Sequencing |
| Comments: |
| Test name: Aerobic Organism Identification |
| ARUP #: 0060115 |
| Methodology: Identification. Methods may include biochemical, mass spectrometry, or sequencing. |
| Comments: Include warning if organism suspected to be dangerous pathogen (eg, Salmonella, Shigella, Neisseria meningitides) For suspected agents of bioterrorism, notify state department of health and refer isolates to state laboratory for identification Susceptibilities on agents of bioterrorism are not performed at ARUP |
| Test name: Febrile Antibodies Panel |
| ARUP #: 2001789 |
| Methodology: Semi-Quantitative Agglutination/Semi-Quantitative Indirect Fluorescent Antibody/Qualitative Immunoblot |
| Comments: |