Human leptospirosis, an acute febrile illness that presents with many manifestations, is found worldwide.
Tests generally appear in the order most useful for common clinical situations
| Test name: Leptospira Antibody, IgM by Dot Blot |
| ARUP #: 0055233 |
| Methodology: Qualitative Dot Blot |
| Use: Detect the presence of serum IgM to Leptospira biflexa, serovar Patoc 1, which is genetically similar to disease-causing members of the genus Leptospira |
| Limitations: Not sensitive in first week of illness May require convalescent IgG to confirm human infection |
| Test name: Leptospira Antibody |
| ARUP #: 0050786 |
| Methodology: Semi-Quantitative Indirect Hemagglutination |
| Use: Detect Leptospira-specific IgG and IgM in serum or plasma samples in which Leptospira infection is suspected |
| Limitations: Cannot be used to predict the point of IgM appearance or cessation in patients, nor can it be used to distinguish a current or recent leptospirosis infection from a past infection or reinfection with another serotype Less sensitive than IgM by Dot Blot |
| Test name: Leptospira Culture |
| ARUP #: 0060158 |
| Methodology: Standard reference procedures for Leptospira bacterial culture and exam |
| Use: Gold standard for Leptospira identification |
| Limitations: Time-sensitive test Recommend obtaining acute serology testing concurrently because test takes up to 6 weeks for evaluation CSF should be collected within first week of illness; after first week of illness, urine should be collected |