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Brucella Antibody

Brucella Antibody (Total) by Agglutination

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5957, Beaker: XBRUA, ARUP: 50135

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Acute and convalescent specimens must be labeled as such; parallel testing is preferred and convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of the acute samples. Please mark sample plainly as "acute" or "convalescent."

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.2 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Severely lipemic specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.2 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 48 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 14 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 6 months

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT.

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available in 3-5 days.

Reference Range

Negative: Less than 1:20.

Test Methodology

Semi-Quantitative Agglutination.

Interpretation

Cross reactions may occur between Brucella and F. tularensis antigens and antisera, therefore, parallel tests should be run with those antigens. A fourfold rise in titer is considered diagnostic. A single serum titer of 1:80 or 1:160 is suggestive of Brucellosis when accompanied by a compatible clinical course in a patient with a history of potential exposures.

Clinical Utility

This assay is used to detect antibodies in patients having brucellosis. Brucella species cause epizootic infections in a variety of animals as well as septicemic febrile illness and localized infections of bone, or various organs in humans. Brucellosis is associated with occupational or vocational exposure to animals. Sporadic episodes of food-associated brucellosis have occurred in recent years. Brucellosis in humans has a variable incubation time, an insidious or abrupt onset, and no pathognomonic systems or signs. The laboratory confirmation of brucellosis is often based on serological tests rather than isolation of the organism.

CPT Codes

86622
LOINC:  19053-8

Contacts

Last Updated

10/3/2023