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Francisella tularensis Antibodies, IgG and IgM

Tularemia Antibody (Francisella tularensis)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6029, Beaker: XFTUL, ARUP: 3002912

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube, Lavender-top EDTA tube, or Dark Green-top Lithium or Sodium Heparin tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.6 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Turbid specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Transport: 1.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.6 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): 1 month

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, Wednesday, Friday.
Results available in 2-7 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Semi-Quantitative Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Tularemia is primarily a disease of wild animals. The organism, F. tularensis is commonly found in nature. Many wild and domestic mammals, birds, and common house pets have been infected. The disease often begins with the sudden onset of flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, headache and body aches). Incubation is 2-10 days. A positive assay supports the clinical diagnosis of tularemia. Tularemia agglutinins appear in 10-14 days and peak in 5-10 weeks. A four-fold increase during illness or a single titer greater than 1:160 suggests infection. Titers decrease over years.

CPT Codes

86668 x 2.
LOINC:  IgG 70121-9, IgM 16878-1

Contacts

Last Updated

10/3/2023