Search results
Sep 16, 2021 · The tests are used for routine testing in hospitals and laboratories, as rapid tests in test centers or at home, and in family doctors' and specialists' practices. Certain substances or pathogens (germs) can be detected with the help of immunological tests.
- 2021/09/16
Learn what immunologic blood tests are and how they are used to diagnose diseases and disorders related to the immune system. Find out how antigens, antibodies, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) work in immunologic blood tests.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Sep 19, 2023 · An immunoglobulin test measures the amount of antibodies in your blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Antibodies are proteins that fight off infections and allergies. Learn about the different types of immunoglobulins, why you might need this test, and what the results mean.
- What is an immunoglobulins blood test?
- What is it used for?
- Why do I need an immunoglobulins blood test?
- What happens during an immunoglobulins blood test?
- Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
- Are there any risks to the test?
- What do the results mean?
- Is there anything else I need to know about an immunoglobulins blood test?
- References
- Related Health Topics
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
This test measures the amount of immunoglobulins in your blood. Immunoglobulins are also called antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight germs, such as viruses and bacteria. When you're exposed to germs, your body makes unique antibodies that are specifically designed to destroy only those germs.
An immunoglobulins test usually measures three main types of immunoglobulin (Ig) antibodies that do different jobs to protect your health:
•IgM antibodies are the first immunoglobulins your body makes after you're exposed to germs. They provide short-term protection while your body makes other antibodies. IgM antibodies are in your blood and lymph fluid (a watery fluid that carries the cells that fight infections and diseases to all parts of your body).
•IgG antibodies are very important for fighting infections from bacteria and viruses. Most of the immunoglobulins in your blood are IgG. You also have some IgG antibodies in all your body fluids. Your body keeps a "blueprint" of all the IgG antibodies you have made. That way, if you're exposed to the same germs again, your immune system can quickly make more antibodies.
•IgA antibodies protect your respiratory tract (the organs you use to breathe) and your digestive system (the organs you use to eat and digest food) from infections. You have IgA antibodies in your blood, saliva, and gastric "juices."
An immunoglobulins blood test measures the amounts of IgM, IgG, and IgA in your blood to help diagnose different types of health conditions that may affect your immune system.
An immunoglobulins blood test may be used to:
•Check the health of your immune system if you are often sick with infections or diarrhea
•Help diagnose and monitor a variety of conditions that may cause abnormal levels of IgM, IgG, and/or IgA, such as:
•Autoimmune disorders. With these disorders your immune system attacks your own healthy cells by mistake, including cells that make immunoglobulins. Examples of autoimmune disorders include rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
•Certain types of cancer that affect your bone marrow, blood, or immune system
•Chronic (long-term) infections
You may need this test if you have symptoms that could mean your immunoglobulin levels are too low. If you have too few immunoglobulins, you have an immunodeficiency.
Symptoms of low levels of immunoglobulins usually include having many, repeated infections and other problems, such as:
•Sinus, throat, and ear infections
•Respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis
•Diarrhea
•Serious infections from germs that don't usually cause problems in healthy people, such as:
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for an immunoglobulins blood test.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Your provider will compare your levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA. Your results can mean different things, depending on which immunoglobulins are high or low, your symptoms, and any conditions you may have. An immunoglobulins blood test alone cannot diagnose any conditions. So if your results aren't normal, you'll probably need more testing to find out what's affecting your immune system.
Some possible causes of low levels of one or more immunoglobulins are:
•Conditions that may reduce the amount of protein in your body, including:
•Kidney disease
•Serious burns
•Certain malabsorption disorders
If your symptoms suggest that an immune condition may be affecting your spine or brain, your provider may order an immunoglobulin test on a sample of your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If your symptoms include frequent colds, sinus infections, or diarrhea, your saliva may be tested for IgA levels.
1.Hinkle J, Cheever K. Brunner & Suddarth's Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 2nd Ed, Kindle. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; c2014. Quantitative Immunoglobulins: IgA, IgG, and IgM; 442–3 p.
2.Johns Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Johns Hopkins Medicine; c2022. Health Library: Lumbar Puncture (LP) [cited 2022 Jun 2]; [about 7 screens]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/lumbar-puncture
3.Justiz Vaillant AA, Jamal Z, Ramphul K. Immunoglobulin. [Updated 2022 Jan 24; cited 2022 Jun 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513460/
4.Loh RK, Vale S, Maclean-Tooke A. Quantitative serum immunoglobulin tests. Aust Fam Physician [Internet]. 2013 Apr [cited 2018 Feb 17]; 42(4):195–8. Available from: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/april/quantitative-serum-immunoglobulin-tests
5.Mayo Clinic: Mayo Medical Laboratories [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1995–2022. Test ID: IMMG: Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM), Serum: Clinical and Interpretative [cited 2022 Jun 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/overview/8156#Clinical-and-Interpretive
6.Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co. Inc.; c2022. Autoimmune Disorders [modified 2020 Oct; cited 2022 Jun 2]; [about 6 screens]. Available from: http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/immune-disorders/allergic-reactions-and-other-hypersensitivity-disorders/autoimmune-disorders
This test measures the amount of immunoglobulins (antibodies) in your blood. It can help diagnose and monitor conditions that affect your immune system, such as infections, autoimmune disorders, or cancers.
What are immunology and serology? Immunology is the study of the body's immune system and its functions and disorders. Serology is the study of blood serum (the clear fluid that separates when blood clots). Immunology and serology laboratories focus on the following: Identifying antibodies.
Feb 29, 2024 · Learn about immunoglobulins, also called antibodies, and how they help your body fight infections and diseases. Find out what immunoglobulin tests measure, what the normal ranges are, and what abnormal results mean.
This test measures the amount of immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, in your blood. Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to fight disease-causing substances, like viruses and bacteria.
