anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae

ELISA kit for detection of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in human serum or plasma.

For the best interpretation of results it is recommended to determine the titres in each antibody class

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common pathogen of the human respiratory tract. Mycoplasma causes pneumonia with clinical gradual onset of headache, fever, malaise and nonproductive cough.

 Laboratory diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Dynamics of antibody titres measured in paired sera from a single patient is the basis of laboratory confirmation of clinical diagnosis.

Diagnostic value of measurements of titers in different classes of antibodies

IgM:     A rise of serum anti-mycoplasma antibodies class IgM is detectable in 1-2 weeks after infection. Maximal levels are found in 1 month and may last for more than 1 year. Specific IgM antibodies are present in 80% of infections in patients up to and including 20 years of age and in 40% of cases in patients older than 20 years.

IgA:     Antibodies class IgA are usually detectable later in time when compared to the rise of IgM antibodies, they however fall earlier than IgM. The importance of elevated IgA titers comes to a point in patients without increased IgM and in cases of reinfection.

IgG:     Antibodies class IgG rise within 2-3 weeks after onset of clinical symptoms, the titers slowly increase and reach maximum later in the convalescent phase, sometimes it takes 6 months. The increased IgG levels last for more than 1 year or even longer. Therefore in case of reinfection it is necessery to determine the dynamics of antibody titers measured in paired sera obtained ideally in 1-2 week interval.