Not all tests for ascaris will show a reliable result.

Types of Ascaris Tests

The main methods used to detect ascariasis include:

1. Blood test (biochemical and general). It determines the growth of the level of leukocytes, erythrocytes and hemoglobin when the helminth penetrates the body.
2. ELISA. It assumes that roundworm larvae form when antigens enter the body.
3. Analysis of feces. Based on the intestinal stage of the disease.
4. Sputum analysis. Allows you to detect the larvae of worms that hit the patient's lungs.
5. Biochemical analysis of urine. It is aimed at determining the level of specific fatty acids that are the product of ascaris.

But, unfortunately, not all of these analyzes can be considered sufficiently informative. So, the analysis of sputum does not make sense until the disease reaches the pulmonary stage, and in fact until this point roundworm can be in the body for several months, gradually poisoning it. And the indicators of volatile fatty acids in the urine can be increased due to other diseases that are not associated with infection of the body with helminths. In this regard, to detect ascariasis, a stool or blood analysis is performed first.

Analysis of feces for ascaris

This method of diagnosis of ascariasis can be considered the most common, although it is effective only at a certain stage of the disease, when female Ascaris begin to lay eggs in large numbers in the human intestine. That they can be found in the fecal masses of the patient through microscopic analysis.

Under the microscope, eggs of roundworm in feces are visible.

The preparation procedure for it is as follows: the biomaterial must be placed in a special disposable container with a tight lid (for analysis, a volume of approximately 2 tsp is required). During emptying it should not be contaminated with urine and secretions from the genitals, so it is advisable to urinate before collecting the material. For emptying, you should choose a clean and dry container, and the sample for analysis should be taken from different areas of feces.

To obtain reliable results, the biomaterial should be delivered to the laboratory no later than 45 minutes after emptying. If this is not possible, it can be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature from +4 to + 8⁰ С in a tightly closed container, but not more than 8 hours. However, the information content of the analysis may suffer from this.

It involves the study of the following indicators:

For analysis, blood is taken from the fingertip. To get reliable results, you must donate it in the morning, on an empty stomach, refusing to eat fatty foods the day before.

A blood test must be taken on an empty stomach.

Blood test for antibodies

The results of this analysis are considered positive if the normal level of IgG antibodies is exceeded by more than 4 times, and the rate is an individual indicator for each laboratory and depends on the type of technique used.

For analysis in adults, a sample of venous blood is taken, in children - capillary. In order for the results to be reliable, the following rules must be observed:

• blood is given in the morning, on an empty stomach;
• the interval between the last meal and blood collection should be at least 12 hours;
• 30 minutes before the analysis it is necessary to stop smoking, 48 hours before drinking and taking medications;
• sick going through any drug treatment, laboratory specialists should be warned about this, as some drugs significantly affect the level of immunoglobulins;
• physical activity and emotional overload should be avoided before the blood is taken.
• women are not recommended to take an antibody test during menstruation.

Interpretation of the results may be as follows:

The analysis may not be sufficiently informative if less than 5 days have passed since the moment of infection until blood collection, as it takes time for the body to produce antibodies.

What analysis to give preference?

First of all, stool analysis and general analysis  blood. But the information received is not always enough for an accurate diagnosis and proper selection of treatment. For example, stool analysis, for example, reveals a disease only in 30% of cases, because even if there is ascaris in the patient’s intestines, for many reasons, at the time of the analysis, their eggs may not be present in the feces. To increase its reliability, repeated studies are being conducted, but they also provide the necessary information far from all stages of the disease.

Similarly, a complete blood count can show an increase in the level of leukocytes or anemia caused by completely different reasons not related to infection with helminths. Therefore, an additional blood test for antibodies to Ascaris, which currently provides the most reliable information, can be carried out. It allows you to diagnose a disease of this kind in almost 95% of cases.

This analysis is more complicated than the previous ones, and requires more substantial material costs, but its advantages are obvious:

• high diagnostic sensitivity;
• able to detect disease on early stageto trace the dynamics of its development and the effectiveness of the therapy;
• automated research process that allows you to get the most accurate results.

But, despite the advantages and disadvantages of each of the tests, only a qualified infectious disease physician should prescribe any of them, taking into account the existing symptoms and the individual characteristics of the patient.

emergency disease is a disease that is difficult to identify. The task of paramount importance is the detection of invasion during the early stage of development. Today, a blood test for ascaris is the main diagnostic method used to help determine the presence of helminths in the body.

• feeling weak;
• reduced activity;
• muscle pain;
• headache;
• general malaise.

The main groups of diagnostic methods and tools

Analyzes of clinical nature. These include feces, blood tests for signs of anemia, and elevated eosinophil levels. Tests for the presence of ascaris in the patient’s urine can also be used.

Preparation for the analysis

In order to examine the blood for the presence of ascaris, venous blood is taken from adults and capillary blood is taken from children. Analysis for ascariasis is carried out on an empty stomach. It is recommended not to eat food for 12 hours before delivery. Also, experts advise to limit reception drugsby stopping treatment 2 days prior to analysis. If the course of treatment cannot be interrupted, notification of the laboratory technician is required. Also, the recommendations of the doctors include smoking cessation and alcohol consumption a day before specialists take up blood testing.

How the study is conducted, the norms of analysis

The most effective study of human blood is ELISA - enzyme immunoassay. When it is performed, blood is analyzed from the point of view of antibody production, despite some peculiarity in the process of antibody production by the body of an adult.

The immune system of the human body generates specific antibodies in response to the fact that roundworms produce antigens. With the help of these antibodies, the body tries to overcome the toxic effects of helminths. In order to determine the stage of development worm infestation  and the time of infection with ascaris, a blood test for ascaris is carried out in order to determine the presence and concentration of these antibodies, and determine their type.

  96-well microplate used for ELISA

Decoding analysis in each laboratory may differ slightly one from one. It depends on what equipment is installed in the laboratory, how high-quality reagents are used, and also what kind of sample is used. For this reason, experts must write down their standards on a sheet with the result of the analysis.

Blood testing for ascariasis provides three possible variations of the results, namely:

With the development of ascariasis in the human body, a blood test shows how many times the number of immunoglobulins has increased in relation to their normal blood serum. For IgD and IgE antibodies, the normal amount is<0,15 г/л и <0,38 мг/л соответственно.

The interpretation of the analysis carried out is also taking into account the standards for other antibodies labeled with types A, G, M. For these immunoglobulins, the standards for serum are as follows: 0.9-4.5 g / l for type A, 5.65-17, 65 g / l for G and 0.6-3.50 g / l for type M.

There are cases when 1/100 indicator is used as a titer for type G antibodies. Sometimes this indicator can be considered recommended by experts.

What is the analysis of feces inferior blood test

Serological blood test for ascariasis has a number of advantages compared with stool analysis, namely:

X-ray diagnosis of ascariasis

The likelihood of an error during a blood test

Naturally, each person is concerned with the likelihood with which the result of the analysis can be erroneous. In the case of a patient's blood test for ascariasis, the error is no more than 10% during the acute stage of the disease. The accuracy of determining a certain type of immunoglobulins is 94%. Doubtful analysis results are subject to repeated verification.

Repeated analysis, carried out a month after the primary, is analyzed in dynamics. In this case, experts compare the number of immunoglobulins in both tests and pass a positive or negative result.

Preventive measures

Preventive measures include:

  - worm infestation of the body, that is, infection with worms. It can be diagnosed in various ways. The most common is feces analysis, it can be found ascaris eggs, and sometimes adults themselves.

However, this is not the only way to diagnose a disease. A blood test for ascariasis is also widely used, which allows the detection of specific components that appear in a blood sample when an organism is infected with ascarids.

Blood test

Ascaris

To determine whether the body is infected with worms, you can use a general blood test. It helps to establish whether phenomena characteristic of worm infestation are present in the body. Usually, it is he, as the most simple and cheap, is appointed first.

If his results indicate that the probability of invasion exists, then additional studies are appointed - an analysis of the presence of eggs and larvae of worms in the feces, as well as a study on the presence of antibodies to ascaris.

What phenomena are characteristic in the presence of a worm infestation in a patient? First of all, it is anemia - a significant decrease in the iron content and low hemoglobin.

To determine the presence of anemia can be reduced rates of red blood cells and hemoglobin. It is on the basis of these indicators that the doctor judges the probability of the presence of an invasion.

Antibody Analysis

This is one of the most specific research methods. It is based on the fact that during the invasion of the body by ascaris, the body begins to produce antibodies in order to fight off alien organisms.

These antibodies enter the bloodstream and are detected in the assay. This method is one of the most accurate diagnostic methods for ascariasis. The full title of this study: an analysis of antibodies igg to Ascaris.

This is an immunological study that is most relevant in the early stages of infection. At those stages when even a study of feces may not give convincing results.

The presence of antibodies suggests that the body is infected with ascarids in the large intestine. Timely diagnosis by this method does not allow the disease to go into a chronic form and develop into a difficult stage with the appearance of eggs and larvae in the lungs and bronchi.

The study has the following features:

1. Rarely assigned immediately (usually, is optional, as the analysis of igg for ascaris is rather complicated and expensive);
2. Appointed in the presence of high blood levels of leukocytes;
3. It is carried out exclusively when there is a clinical picture and symptoms characteristic of invasion;
4. It can be prescribed in cases when a person has been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with this - this allows you to diagnose the infection as early as possible and begin treatment not only before the onset of complications, but also before the onset of characteristic symptoms.

The effectiveness of such a study in infants who may have maternal antibodies in the analysis is limited. Also in people in a state of immunodeficiency, this study is also biased.

Stool analysis

If ascaris is present in the body for a long time, then its presence can be found in the analysis of feces. It is found directly ascaris or her eggs.

However, this method is effective only when the invasion is in the intestinal stage, that is, adults are present in the intestine. At this stage, the clinical picture and the deterioration of the patient's condition are often already present.

This method does not allow determining the invasion at the larval or migration stage, that is, early enough so that the patient does not notice its influence, and the treatment acts quickly and is effective.

For the purpose of analysis for ascaris need a foundation. It is recommended to consult a doctor for further examination in case of deterioration of health, when a number of signs are detected:

• The structure of the stool often changes: diarrhea is replaced by diarrhea;
• It regularly hurts and is dizzy;
• There is a feeling of nausea, with a deterioration of the state - vomiting;
• The skin turns pale;
• Under the eyes are dark circles;
• Appetite deteriorates and weight loss is noted;
• The general condition is weakened, insomnia appears;
• Increased drooling;
• Abdominal pain.

Diagnostic methods of ascariasis

1. Total blood count. In doing so, the composition of blood is studied Key indicators: hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells.
2. ELISA - enzyme immunoassay. Aims to identify antibodies to the helminth antigen.
3. Analysis of feces (coprogram). In the study of biomaterial eggs are detected worms.

Auxiliary diagnostic methods:

• Urinalysis - confirms the presence of ascaris, as the products of their vital activity are fatty acids that remain in the urine;
• Sputum examination - is carried out with the defeat of the lungs, biomaterial taken when coughing;
• Radiography / Ultrasound.

More information about the diagnosis of ELISA

Blood test advantages: high reliability of the method 90%, early detection of infection

First, simpler and more accessible tests are prescribed: feces, total blood. If the results are mixed, it is recommended to donate blood for the ELISA test. ELISA is carried out with ascariasis and mixed worm infestation.

This analysis is prescribed to determine the stage of the disease. This is due to the fact that from a number of existing diagnostic methods only an immunoassay provides more accurate answers to the questions: who hit the body (which helminth); what stage of the disease the patient is at.

Over the last day before delivery, do not drink alcohol, fatty foods, medicines

Donate blood for ELISA need after preparation. Follow the recommendations to get an accurate picture of the state of the human body:

• The biomaterial is taken on an empty stomach, which means that it is better to take the analysis in the morning, and the last meal before it should be in the evening (dinner, 10 hours);
• Drug treatment is interrupted, if it is impossible to stop taking the pills, tell the laboratory technician and the attending physician about it;
• Before taking blood, it is better to give up bad habits for a few days: alcohol, cigarettes, fatty, sweet, smoked, salty and spicy foods.

To understand why ELISA is an important diagnostic method, its advantages should be explored:

• If the biomaterial was taken from a prepared patient, the analysis will be high - up to 90%;
• The ability to determine the type of helminth and stage of the disease;
• One can observe the development of ascariasis in dynamics.

Stool analysis

High reliability of the result is possible only at the stage of chronic infection.

It is better to store the biomaterial in a cold place at a temperature of up to +8 for no longer than 2 hours. The deadline for delivery of feces after collection is 8 hours. The sample is placed in a sterile container.

If there are roundworms in the body, then it is recommended to take a stool test several times. This increases the effectiveness of the diagnostic method. Coprogram repeat 3-6 times, making a break for 1-2 days. PCR is performed twice, the interval between analyzes - up to 3 weeks.

Radiography

This diagnostic method is effective in various forms of helminthiasis, however, it is advisable to carry it out at the initial stage of the disease, when other studies may give inaccurate results. In the chronic form of ascariasis, x-rays are usually not done, because in this case the diagnosis can be confirmed in simpler ways (laboratory tests). Radiography is prescribed for examination of the respiratory system, if there are unpleasant symptoms of helminthiasis of the lungs.

The use of X-rays is most justified in the early stages of ascariasis-diagnosis

Nuances of decoding

If you receive intermediate results of the analysis, you should conduct a study again. In the case when the laboratory gives a response similar to the first, it is considered that the results of the test for helminthiasis are negative.

Norm, reference indicators

Decoding is carried out by a doctor, but for a general picture it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the main indicators. Total immunoglobulins IgE, IgD increase in comparison with normal values ​​(respectively: 0.3 mg / l; 0.15 mg / l).

Different laboratories define their norms, but on average, immunoglobulin IgG, IgM, IgA are considered acceptable at values ​​of, respectively: 7-16 g / l; 0.4-2.3 g / l; 0.7-4 g / l.

Watch the video: Symptoms and treatment of ascariasis

What diagnostic method is more accurate?

Each type of analysis is effective at a certain stage in the development of the disease and under certain conditions. However, the ELISA study and coprogram are more accurate in comparison with urinalysis and general blood analysis, as they allow you to see traces of the presence of helminths, whereas the latter two diagnostic methods are usually assigned as auxiliary and indicate indirect signs of ascariasis (changes in blood composition and determination of impurities in urine).

The analysis is particularly informative in the first three months after infection, because so much the initial stage of such a disease. You can become infected from a carrier who releases eggs along with faeces, as well as through dirty food, most often vegetables or fruits.

In the human body in the first two to three weeks, after the infection has come, igG antibodies to ascaris gradually appear.

The early stage of ascariasis is characterized by the following symptoms:

• general weakness and malaise;
• severe headaches;
• very often the temperature rises over 38 ° C, which is accompanied by chills and muscle pain;
• liver and spleen enlarged;
• rashes appear on the skin that can cause itching of varying degrees of intensity;
• the lungs are disturbed, an obsessive cough of a dry character appears, painful sensations in the chest, difficulty in breathing (shortness of breath) is possible;
• pain with palpation of the lymph nodes and their increase;
• sleep disorders.

When the disease begins to actively develop, a violation of the gastrointestinal tract joins the above symptoms:

• frequent causeless disorder or constipation;
• pain in the intestines;
• refusal to eat;
• nausea in varying degrees, and sometimes vomiting.

In addition, iron deficiency can develop after infection with ascaris. iron-deficiency anemia.

Immunoassay method of analysis (ELISA)

Preparation for delivery of the analysis of this type, differs in nothing from standard procedure of collecting blood.

For 8-10 hours it is forbidden to eat, in the morning it is better to refuse to use toothpaste, except for water you can not drink another liquid, tea is also an exception. For one or two days you should eat only non-fatty foods, and also exclude spices, all spicy, salty and smoked. You can not even drink weak alcoholic beverages. If the analysis falls into the “after the feast” period, then it is better to transfer it or report it to the laboratory so that they can take into account the possible error.

Laboratory analysis is carried out by way of placing ascariasis antigens, which have a certain consistency, in a medical tablet, namely in his wells. After that, human blood serum is gradually added there, which is to be investigated.

In the presence of antibodies of this type, binding occurs with antigens that are in the plate. Such compounds are detected using an enzyme reagent, its occurrence is specific. At the final stage of this analysis is the addition of a colorless substrate, which during the reaction affects the color of the material that is investigated.

Depending on how bright the color is, it depends on how many connections have occurred between antigens and antibodies. Such pairs can be calculated visually or by applying spectral analysis.

Diagnosis of this method allows you to get a result with an accuracy of 95%. If you conduct such a test in parallel with blood tests, you can accurately detect the presence or absence of antibodies to ascaris.

Decoding the result of ELISA analysis of antibodies to ascaris

In order to carry out the analysis, you should donate blood from a vein.

The result of such a study may be: negative, positive or doubtful (borderline).

IGG Positive

This means that the patient is infected with ascaris at an early stage, and possibly also had such a disease before. The analysis shows the positiveness of the quantitative coefficient. To adjust the treatment process should consider the dynamics of this indicator. With cross-immunological responses, sometimes false positive responses occur. This is due to the fact that different types of helminthiases may contain the same constituent antigens.

If the result is positive, the doctor will prescribe an examination to all relatives who have had contact with an infected patient.

Igg negative

It means that there is no invasion or that the level that determines IGG antibodies to ascaris is not reached. This option is possible if the immune response is expressed very weakly or when the infection is on the period at which it can not be detected.

Igg doubtful

This result shows the number of antibodies that are very close to a positive indicator, but still are normal. With this option, the analysis is done again after 14 days. If it shows similar results, the borderline is already definitely considered negative.

Parameters of parameters

The unit of measurement for such an analysis is titer. If the titer is less than 1/100, then this means that the patient has a negative indicator, and accordingly, with a titer of more than 1/100, the result is positive.

If a re-examination has been scheduled, then it is worth turning to the same laboratory as the first time to eliminate the error that may appear when using reagents of a different type.

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