Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies Test

This test is performed to look for the presence of anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in the body. Presence of antibodies confirms that you are suffering from the infection. The sooner the diagnosis is made, the better the chances of recovery.

Your doctor will order this test if you show the following symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Tiredness
• Low-grade fever
• Sore throat 
• Persistent cough which worsens gradually 
• Headaches

No prior preparations are needed before this test. Discuss your medical history with the doctor and inform him/her if you are taking any medications or supplements. 

Depending upon the doctor’s advice, you may have to avoid eating or drinking for a few hours before the test. However, do not do so unless instructed.

In case you have undergone any other diagnostic procedure recently, make sure to talk to your doctor about it, as the presence of radioactive substances (used in some tests) in the body may interfere with the results of this test. 

Only a small amount of blood is needed to conduct this test. A doctor or laboratory technician will withdraw the required amount of blood sample using a sterile needle and put it in an appropriate container/tube. Sometimes, more than one needle insertion may be required. You may feel no pain from the needle or just a quick sting or pinch.

Some other problems associated with blood tests are: 

• Difficulty in obtaining the sample
• Excessive bleeding at the site from where the blood is drawn
• Fainting 
• Haematoma (accumulation of blood under the skin)
• Infection at the site of needle insertion 

Most of occur in rare cases and can be avoided if proper precautionary measures are taken.

Normal results:

The antibody titre is expressed as a ratio. A ratio of < 0.8 ratio is considered normal or negative result.

If the test results turn out to be negative, it indicates the absence of antibodies. However, this does not necessarily confirm the absence of infection. This may be because the antibodies are not yet present in a detectable amount in the blood. Others tests may be needed to eliminate the possibility of the infection.

Abnormal results:

A positive result indicates the presence of infection and antibodies to the bacteria that are causing the respiratory illness. The doctor is likely to perform more diagnostic tests to confirm the exact cause of the illness.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.