The human body is often inhabited by uninvited "guests" - helminths and various types of single-celled organisms.Most of them live in the intestines, but there are also those that prefer to be localized in the liver, brain and other organs, passing through the circulatory system.
It is impossible to detect such "new settlers" in 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;
- Hemoscanning - microscopy;
A serological test - blood tests for parasites in a test tube, in which the reaction to antibodies is determined - is considered the most reliable.You can identify this way: Giardia, Echinococcus, Trichinosis, Ascoridosis, Opisthorchiasis, Toxocariasis.
Who should seek medical help?
When colonizing the body, the parasites exhaust their resources and begin to feed on the useful substances that enter it.
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 nutrition;
- a state reminiscent of intoxication - muscle pain, sleep problems, rashes on the body;
- night grinding of teeth seen by others;
- fatigue, lethargy, weakness;
- not being able to get enough.
Malaise is caused by poisoning of the body - intoxication, waste products of helminths and waste products of individuals who cannot always leave their habitats naturally.An enzyme immunoassay for adults allows identification of parasitic markers.During this period, it is possible to see the exact amount of specific immunoglobulins and antibodies in the human body.
In addition, it is recommended to do a PCR test - Polymer chain reaction.Determines the exact types of helminths.
Without experiencing the unpleasant symptoms described above, it is necessary to donate blood to identify parasites.It is recommended that adults be tested for parasites when planning pregnancy, before vaccination and after completing treatment of helminthic infections to monitor the condition.
Which tests for parasites in adults are decided by the attending physician.It is expensive to take all the tests in one series - they are paid.
Serological tests
If the patient feels unwell and wants to make a quick diagnosis, serological tests are prescribed, if helminth infection is suspected, serological tests are prescribed.
These rapid methods are based on the types of reactions:
- antigen-antibody;
- latex agglutination;
- immunofluorescence;
- indirect heagglutination.
Blood is taken from a vein, on an empty stomach, but not in a syringe, but into an open test tube.The research is carried out in vitro, making the appropriate reagents into biomaterials.
Blood Elisa is a serological test.
You have to wait a week for the results, but the latex Agglutination test only takes 2.5 hours.
Elisa immunoassay
This test tube test is considered the most reliable.Principles of research: use of the basics of immunology by connecting an antigen with specific antibodies.Two components are evaluated - the enzymatic reaction and the immune reflex.An immune response is a complex life cycle of cellular compounds bound by antigens and antibodies.
Antigens are structures that carry information about cells;They are individual for each person and have no copies.
Antigens are able to recognize foreign cell compounds in the immune system.The antigen that appears on the surface of an "infected" cell does not coincide with what is present in a healthy state.The body tries to destroy a new form of antigen that does not 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 located on the surface of every immune cell.The antibody transmits information to the cell nucleus, which triggers a complex mechanism - the connection with the antigen is broken, the cell is released.Antibodies are designated by symbols - iga, igd, igg, ige and igm.
Blood sampling takes place according to the following algorithm:
- The analysis should be done in the morning - at least 8 hours after the last meal;
- Up to 5 ml of blood is taken from the cubital vein in the laboratory into a clean test tube from an adult;
- In newborns, biomaterial is collected in the placenta or from the umbilical cord.
The day before the test, you should stop taking carbonated drinks, alcohol and antibacterial drugs.
The analysis is presented in the form of a table:
- Negative result - the titers of JGA, JGG and JGM are negative - there is a minus sign (-) at the end;
- There is infectious or hypo vaccine immunity - if you have recently had treatment - 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 (-);
- After recovery, the table will have one value - where the JGM titer is negative (-).
General blood test
A general blood test from a finger prick is also a type of diagnosis that shows enterobiasis.Blood is donated in the same way during a regular examination - preferably on an empty stomach.If eosinophils increase above 20%, there are helminths in the body and the examination continues.
Eosinophils, leukocyte growth, are cells with 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 cause pathological damage to living tissues.
Hemosanning
Many helminths pass their developmental stages outside the intestine and migrate throughout the body with the bloodstream.Blood is drawn from a finger onto a glass slide and then placed under a microscope.
Then, for some time, laboratory experts have been studying what changes occur in this drop of blood in real time.
You can find "spy" about the vital activity and development of helminths from helminth larvae and larvae.
Reliability Elisa - 97, 98% and 90%, but the correct collection of biomaterial, the type of parasites, the level of antibody production can be determined and special drugs can be prescribed.
Drugs against helminthiasis 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 - advantages and disadvantages
The doctor determines which examination to choose for the determination of enterobiasis.
Benefits of blood test:
- When collecting feces, you cannot come to the cycle of the life cycle as long as 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 produced antibodies - is determined.
Disadvantages of assessing helminthic infection using blood tests:
- Less availability and high cost for testing;
- Special equipment is required;
- You have to wait up to 7 days for the results.
After receiving a request for a blood test for parasites, you should find out what it is called.If infection with helminths of different species is suspected, different tests are performed.