RICKETTSIA SP ANTIBODIES

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Specimen: 5-10 mL blood in plain tube; acute and convalescent samples.

Method: IF.

Application: Confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of typhus (murine or scrub) or spotted fever (incl Queensland tick typhus and Flinders Island spotted fever).

Interpretation: The diagnosis of rickettsial infection is confirmed by a four-fold rise in antibody titre between acute and convalescent samples. The traditional Weil-Felix test, based on the pattern of serological reactions to Proteus sp, lacks sensitivity and specificity and is no longer recommended.

Reference: Graves SR. Pathology 1998; 30: 147-152. Baird RW et al. J Clin Microbiol 1992; 30: 2896-2602.

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