Calbiotech Toxoplasma IgM ELISA

SUMMARY AND EXPLANATION 
Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, a common disease that affects 30-50 of every 100 people in North America by the time they are adults. The mean source of infection is direct contact with cat feces or from eating undercooked meats. Toxoplasmosis generally presents with mild symptoms in immunocompetent individuals; in the immunocompromised patient, however, the infection can have serious consequences. Acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women can result in result in miscarriage, poor growth, early delivery or stillbirth. Treatment of an infected pregnant woman may prevent or lessen the disease in her unborn child. Treatment of an infected infant will also lessen the severity of the disease as the child grows. IgG and IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma can be detected with 2-3 weeks after exposure. IgG remains positive, but the antibody level drops overtime. ELISA can detect Toxoplasma IgM antibody after one year after infection in over 50% of patients. Therefore, IgM positive results should be evaluated further with one or two follow up samples if primary infection is suspected.

PRINCIPLE OF THE TEST 
Diluted patient serum (serum diluent contains sorbent to remove Rheumatoid Factor and human IgG interference) is added to wells coated with purified antigen. IgM specific antibody, if present, binds to the antigen. All unbound materials are washed away and the enzyme conjugate is added to bind to the antibody-antigen complex, if present. Excess enzyme conjugate is washed off and substrate is added. The plate is incubated to allow the hydrolysis of the substrate by the enzyme. The intensity of the color generated is proportional to the amount of IgM specific antibody in the sample.

STORAGE AND STABILITY 
1. Store the kit at 2-8°C. 
2. Keep microwells sealed in a dry bag with desiccants. 
3. The reagents are stable until expiration of the kit. 
4. Do not expose test reagents to heat, sun or strong light.