The human body is quite often inhabited by uninvited "guests" - helminths and single-celled organisms of various types.Most of them reside in the intestines, but there are also those that prefer to be located in the liver, brain and other organs, moving through the circulatory system.
It is impossible to detect such "new settlers" in the feces.To identify them, you need to do a blood test for parasites.
Currently, the following types of tests have been developed:
- serological tests;
- enzyme immunoassay?
- hemoscopy – microscopy;
Serological testing - blood tests for parasites in a test tube, where the reaction to antibodies is determined - is considered the most reliable.In this way you can recognize: Giardia, Echinococcus, trichinosis, ascoridosis, opisthorchiasis, toxocariasis.
Who needs to seek medical help?
When they colonize the body, the parasites begin to feed on the beneficial substances that enter it, depleting its reserves.
The following conditions are considered characteristic symptoms indicating the presence of helminths in adults:
- intestinal problems - alternating diarrhea and constipation, cramps, increased flatulence.
- iron deficiency anemia with normal diet.
- a condition reminiscent of poisoning - muscle pain, trouble sleeping, rashes on the body.
- nocturnal grinding of the teeth, which is noticed by others;
- fatigue, lethargy, weakness.
- inability to get enough.
Indisposition is caused by poisoning of the body - poisoning is caused by the waste of helminths and decaying individuals, which cannot always leave their habitat naturally.An enzyme immunoassay for adults allows the identification of parasite markers.During it, it is possible to see the exact amount of specific immunoglobulins and antibodies in the human body.
In addition, it is recommended to perform a PCR - polymer chain reaction test.It identifies the exact types of helminths.
You need to give blood to identify the parasites, not only by dealing with the unpleasant symptoms described above.It is recommended that adults be checked for parasites when planning pregnancy, before vaccinations and after completing treatment for helminth infections to monitor the condition.
Which tests should be done for parasites in adults is decided by the attending physician.It is expensive to do all the tests in a row - they are paid.
ZOROLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS
If the patient feels unwell and it is desirable to quickly make a diagnosis, then serological tests are prescribed if helminth infection is suspected.
These quick methods are based on the types of reactions:
- antigen-antibody?
- latex welding?
- immunofluorescence;
- indirect haemagglutination.
Blood is taken from a vein, on an empty stomach, but not in a syringe, but in an open test tube.The research is carried out in vitro, introducing appropriate reagents into the biomaterial.
The blood ELISA is a serological test.
You have to wait a week for the results, but the latex bonding test only takes 2.5 hours.
IMMUNIZATION ELISA
This test tube test is considered the most reliable.Principles of the study: the use of the basic elements of immunology, in which an antigen binds to specific antibodies.Two components are assessed - the enzymatic reaction and the immune reflex.An immune reaction is a complex life cycle of cellular compounds, during which antigen and antibodies bind.
Antigens are structures that carry information about cells.they are individual for each person and have no duplicates.
Antigens are capable of recognizing foreign cellular compounds in the immune system.The antigen formed on the surface of an "infected" cell does not coincide with that present on a healthy one.The body tries to destroy a new form of antigen that doesn't match the molecule already in memory.When tested, this process is clearly visible in a test tube.
When a "foreigner" is detected, an antibody is produced - a molecule found on the surface of every immune cell.The antibody transmits information to the cell nucleus, which activates a complex mechanism - the connection with the antigen is broken, the cell is released.Antibodies are designated by the symbols - IgA, IgD, IgG, IgE and IgM.
Blood sampling is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- The analysis should be done in the morning - the interval after the last meal should be at least 8 hours.
- Up to 5 ml of blood is taken in a clean test tube in the laboratory from adults from the vein.
- In newborns, biomaterial is collected from the placenta or umbilical cord.
The day before the test, you should stop drinking carbonated drinks, alcohol and take antibacterial drugs.
The analysis is presented in tabular form:
- negative result – titles of JgA, JgG and JgM are negative – there is a minus sign (-) at the end.
- there is immunity after infection or undervaccination - this happens if you have recently been treated - JgA and JgM (-), JgG (+).
- acute process – JgG and JgA (-/+), JgM (+);
- exacerbation of a chronic process - all titers are positive.
- chronic infection in remission – JgG and JgA (+/-), JgM (-);
- on retrieval, the array will have one value - the JgM title is negative (-).
GENERAL BLOOD TEST
A general blood test from a finger prick is also a type of diagnosis that indicates enterobiasis.Donating blood is done in the same way as during a regular examination - preferably on an empty stomach.If eosinophils increase by more than 20%, we can conclude that there are helminths in the body and continue the examination.
Eosinophils are leukocyte growth cells, granulocytic leukocytes of the blood.In the body, they are responsible for detecting foreign elements and fighting the toxins they release.Eosinophils clean the blood and prevent pathological damage to living tissues.
BLEEDING
Many helminths pass developmental stages outside the intestines and migrate through the bloodstream throughout the body.Blood is drawn from a finger on a glass slide and then placed under a microscope.
Then, over a period of time, lab technicians study what changes occur in that drop of blood in real time.
You can find helminth larvae in it and "spy" on their vital activity and the development of the helminth from the larva.
Reliability is not as high as with ELISA - 97, 98% and 90% - but with the correct collection of biomaterial, the type of parasites, the level of antibody production can be determined and specific drugs can be prescribed.
Antihelminthic drugs have many side effects, so it is extremely important to determine the type of helminths in order to prescribe specialized drugs.
BLOOD TESTS FOR PARASITES – PROS AND CONS
The doctor determines which type of examination he will choose to detect enterobiasis.
Benefits of blood test:
- when you collect feces, you may not reach the period of the life cycle when the worm eggs are released from the body.
- Test results do not depend on the human factor - the qualifications of the laboratory assistant.
- Not only the qualitative state of the body is evaluated, but also the level of infection - the amount of antibodies produced is determined.
Disadvantages of assessing helminth infection using blood tests:
- less availability and high cost of testing.
- special equipment is required.
- You have to wait up to 7 days for results.
Having received a referral for a blood test for parasites, you need to find out what it is called.If infection with helminths of various types is suspected, different tests are performed.