In the article, we will consider how a blood test for chlamydia is performed.
There are a large number of laboratory studies that help identify various diseases and abnormalities in the human condition. A blood test can show the presence of a viral pathology even at the first signs of its development. A hotel group of studies on tumor markers that can indicate a tumor growing in the body is also highlighted. Parasitic microorganisms, such as mycoplasmas and chlamydia, are also detected, which makes it possible to diagnose diseases provoked by their activity.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a group of pathogens that can provoke a variety of pathological processes. For example, ornithosis is a disease that resembles the inflammatory process in the lungs in the form of a course. The appearance of ornithosis contributes to the defeat of the body by the bacteria Chlamydophila psittaci, which are part of the chlamydia family and are often found in domestic and wild birds. Infection of the body with pathogenic microorganisms occurs by airborne droplets, orally, in contact with feathers or places where infected birds were. In addition, scratches obtained from an infected animal, such as a cat, are common chlamydia infections.
Urogenital disease
Chlamydia is an urogenital disease of an infectious genesis that is sexually transmitted. Patients may complain of itching and soreness during urination or during intercourse, as well as pulling pains in the inguinal region and lower abdomen. Chlamydia should be treated immediately after diagnosis. The absence of therapy or its improper choice can lead to complications, including an inflammatory process on the skin and internal organs, and in the worst case, chlamydia can cause infertility.
Infection of a pregnant woman
No less dangerous is the infection with a chlamydia of a pregnant woman. This not only threatens the course of pregnancy and increases the likelihood of a miscarriage, but also provokes premature birth and infection of the fetus during delivery.
Mycoplasmas
Mycoplasmas can also be dangerous, as they affect not only the urethra, but also the respiratory system. When the human body becomes infected with mycoplasmas, it shows signs of an inflammatory process in the lungs, throat and bronchi.
The described infectious pathologies are transmitted through direct contact with the carrier, however, almost every healthy organism contains some insignificant amount of pathogenic microorganisms. Given the balanced functioning of the immune system, these intracellular parasites are not able to harm the body. But against the background of a weakening of the protective properties of mycoplasma and chlamydia, they immediately enter an active state and are manifested by a set of characteristic signs.
Many parents are surprised at the appointment of a child as a doctor, who is often diagnosed with acute respiratory viral infections, tonsillitis, pneumonia, and chlamydia and mycoplasma tests. Perplexity is logical, parents do not understand how genital infections can harm a child. However, this variety of organisms parasitic inside the cells is considered the cause of the development of diseases of the upper and lower organs of the respiratory system, such as atypical pneumonia and bronchitis provoked by mycoplasmas. Partial or complete elimination of pathogens can contribute to the recovery of a regularly ill child.
The most reliable and informative way to identify these pathogens in the body is considered an analysis of chlamydia and mycoplasma. To date, the most effective in the diagnosis of intracellular parasitic lesions are PCR and ELISA.
ELISA and PCR methods: decoding
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) shows antibodies that the body has developed to fight parasites inside cells. For the study, blood is drawn from a vein, and the check involves the identification of both chlamydia and mycoplasmas. To obtain the most reliable results of the analysis, blood sampling is performed in the morning on an empty stomach. Deciphering the obtained indicators helps to recognize the pathogen of infection and to evaluate the course of the pathological process.
In addition, a regularly conducted ELISA study provides an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. By markers, you can judge the presence of the disease, and also determine the stage at which the pathology is located:
- IgM - acute course;
- IgA - progressive course;
- IgG - chronic infection;
- IgG + IgM - the immune system copes with the infection, which means that the patient is at the recovery stage.
The initial stage of the disease
At the initial stage of the development of the disease, a blood test shows the presence of chlamydia and mycoplasmas by the number of IgM antibodies. The duration of the initial stage of the pathology depends on the type of infectious pathogens and the characteristics of the immunity of each person, but in most cases this period is 1-3 weeks after infection. Detection of IgM antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicates an acute stage of the disease or a relapse of a pathology that proceeds in a chronic form.
One month after the defeat
One month after parasites damage the body's cells, IgA antibody production begins. Later, after about a month, IgG antibodies are formed. A decrease in the number of the latter indicates the effectiveness of the therapy.
Chlamydia PCR analysis is considered to be the most informative for confirmation of infectious diseases. The method is based on microbiological research, the analysis is carried out with genetic material, which allows for a high degree of sensitivity. Even a minimal amount of material is enough to determine the type of pathogenic microorganisms, their localization and quantity. Thanks to the PCR method, it is possible to identify the DNA of pathogens inside the cells, such as Chlamydia pneumoniae (the main causative agent of pneumonia), Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma trachomatis.
The decoding of PCR analyzes has only two options:
- Positive - chlamydia has been identified, which means that the presence of infection is also its type.
- Negative - no antibodies were found in the biomaterial, this indicates the absence of infection.
Discrepancies in the results: reasons
It should be borne in mind that even despite the successes achieved in molecular biology and medicine, the results obtained as a result of analysis on chlamydia may turn out to be unreliable and incorrectly reflect the real clinical picture. There are also situations where the results of several high-precision blood tests for the same pathogens diverge. Such a situation can confuse even an experienced and qualified specialist. If mycoplasmosis or chlamydia is detected, the results of blood tests by the method of PCR and ELISA can radically differ. There may be several reasons for such discrepancies:
- After recovery, IgG antibodies are retained in the blood serum over a long period. When they are found in the blood during an ELISA, this may be incorrectly interpreted as the presence of an infectious disease in the body. In this case, analysis by PCR, which is aimed at identifying DNA of pathogenic microorganisms, will not give a positive result.
- An analysis of chlamydia by PCR or ELISA shows different reactions to infectious diseases that occur in a chronic form. When the patient’s body has weakened from the constant fight against infectious pathogens, he can reduce the production of antibodies and then ELISA will not detect infection. In this case, PCR will necessarily show parasites inside the cells. Also, the reliability of ELISA results can be underestimated during the incubation period of parasites, when the body has not yet begun to fight infectious pathogens.
It can be concluded that the importance of mycoplasma and chlamydia analysis cannot be overestimated. The results obtained are not grounds for confirming the diagnosis, but only indicate a potential problem. To clarify the diagnosis, an extended examination will be required. How to get tested for chlamydia?
Blood Donation Rules
Blood for examination for the presence of mycoplasmas and chlamydia is given in the morning on an empty stomach. If you need to take a smear to detect urogenital infection, the procedure is performed during a gynecological examination. Scraping is done using special probes.
There are a number of factors that can influence the performance of a study. For this reason, it is important to observe several rules for preparing for analysis:
- It is not recommended to take any drugs during the week before the procedure. Hormonal drugs and antibiotics especially affect the results of the study.
- Two days before the study, you should abandon the intimate life.
- The day before blood donation, you should not smoke or drink alcohol.
- It is not recommended to attend physiotherapeutic procedures.
- The study takes into account the presence of pregnancy and its duration.
- After the treatment is completed, a second study is carried out.
As a rule, the specialist independently decides on the method of analysis for chlamydia in women and men. However, in some cases, the choice remains with the patient. If we talk about the cost of the procedure, then on average, PCR will cost 150-200 rubles, while IFA will be much more expensive, the price is up to 500 rubles. However, to make a choice only on the basis of cost is not correct.
Most experts suggest taking tests for chlamydia in two ways at once, which will make it possible to assess a person’s condition comprehensively.
Key differences between studies
The main differences between the two studies are the following features:
- ELISA determines contacts with pathogenic microorganisms, and PCR shows the development of infection in dynamics.
- PCR does not allow to assess the degree of spread of the pathological process.
There is no single answer to the question of the best way to diagnose chlamydia. The method is selected individually for each case.
We examined what tests for chlamydia and mycoplasma exist, the rules for their delivery, as well as options for deciphering the results.