TORCH tests in pregnancy

TORCH tests during pregnancy must be taken without fail, when registered at the antenatal clinic. The concept of TORCH infections means the definition of a number of infections - toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, listeriosis.

It is better, of course, to take tests for these infections before conception. But at an early stage of fetal development, there is also a chance to overcome the infection with minimal damage to the fetus. For example, if infection occurs within 14 days after fertilization, it will lead to the death of the embryo, and if the pregnancy is carried to term, the child will have multiple developmental anomalies. If infection occurs at 11-12 and 25-26 weeks, the fetus may develop multiple malformations of internal organs, and intrauterine fetal death may also occur. If infection occurs later than 26 weeks, more severe inflammatory processes in the fetal organs develop, leading to their abnormal hypertrophy, the nervous system is affected, and the likelihood of premature birth also increases.

Toxoplasmosis test during pregnancy

Toxoplasmosis testing during pregnancy is done upon a woman's visit to a women's health clinic. Toxoplasmosis is caused by parasites that can be contracted from pets, mainly cats, or by eating undercooked meat. If a woman has had latent toxoplasmosis before conception, she already has strong immunity, so there is no threat to the future child. If the fact of primary infection is established in the first trimester, the probability of infection of the child is 15-20%, if in the 2nd trimester - 30%, in the third trimester - 60%. To prevent infection, you need to monitor personal hygiene, eat fried meat, disinfect the toilet of your pet and not come into contact with stray cats.

Normally, if there are no IgM antibodies in the blood, then there is no toxoplasmosis. If IgM antibodies to toxoplasmosis are detected in the blood (which indicates an acute stage), treatment should be started as soon as possible, and additional examination should be carried out. If IgG antibodies are detected in the blood, this indicates a previously suffered infection, and antibodies in the blood will remain for another ten years. In case of acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, in addition to treating the mother, an ultrasound of the fetus is indicated - to make sure that the child does not have an enlarged liver and spleen, dilated ventricles of the brain and there are no other defects.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ]

Test for rubella during pregnancy

Rubella testing during pregnancy is performed in combination with other tests for infections. A referral for this test is given at the beginning of pregnancy in order to have time to prescribe treatment in a timely manner if the pathogen is detected.

Rubella testing can determine whether there are antibodies in the blood. If the expectant mother has had rubella in the early stages of pregnancy, the likelihood that the child will suffer from cataracts, deafness and heart defects increases significantly. If the disease is recorded at 11-16 weeks, the risk of severe pathologies decreases, and minimal disorders are recorded after 20 weeks.

If a pregnant woman suspects that she has had rubella in a latent form, she should consult an infectious disease specialist and undergo a triple test and ultrasound to rule out the possibility of developing pathology in the future child. If, after a triple examination, the fact of abnormalities in the child is confirmed, doctors recommend terminating the pregnancy. Therefore, it is best to take a rubella test six months before planning conception, so that in the absence of antibodies to the disease, you have time to get vaccinated and activate the production of G antibodies.

Chlamydia test during pregnancy

Chlamydia testing during pregnancy is performed in combination with other tests for infections. A referral for this test is given early in pregnancy so that treatment can be prescribed in a timely manner if the pathogen is detected. Chlamydia can be detected in two ways - by taking a smear from the vagina or urethra, or by taking blood from a vein and checking it for antibodies. The most effective diagnostic method is to detect antibodies to chlamydia in the blood. If the antibodies are in small quantities, then we can judge that the disease is chronic and the woman is a carrier. If the percentage of antibodies is high, then this indicates an exacerbation of the infection.

Chlamydia can also affect the health of the fetus in the early stages, but if a woman has previously suffered from chlamydia and has a small percentage of antibodies to this pathogen in the blood and there were no exacerbations during pregnancy, then the risk is minimal. If the disease is in the acute stage, then a course of specific antibacterial therapy is prescribed. Such drugs are selected that do not pass through the placenta and cannot cause even greater harm to the fetus. In addition, the course of antibacterial drugs should be short and end with control diagnostics a few days after discontinuing the drugs.

[ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ], [ 15 ], [ 16 ], [ 17 ], [ 18 ], [ 19 ], [ 20 ], [ 21 ], [ 22 ]

Herpes test during pregnancy

Herpes testing during pregnancy is performed in combination with other tests for infections. A referral for this test is given early in pregnancy to ensure timely treatment and necessary measures in case of detection of the pathogen.

Herpes is a viral disease, easily recognized by its characteristic blistering itchy rash. There are two herpes viruses - one of them affects the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, eyes, and the other affects only the genital area. The virus can be contracted during sex and by airborne droplets, but herpes can also be contracted vertically if a pregnant woman has a chronic or acute form of the disease.

It is especially important to take a herpes test in the first trimester of pregnancy, because it is during this period that the virus entering the fetus’s body can lead to its death or severe pathologies that are ultimately incompatible with life, as well as miscarriage.

Antibodies to herpes begin to be produced as early as 14-21 days after the virus enters the body, so it is easy to diagnose herpes, like any other TORCH infection. To ensure the most reliable result, it is better to submit the material for analysis in the first half of the day, on an empty stomach, and to eat no later than 8 hours beforehand. Also, you cannot submit the analysis after the start of treatment - this will give a deliberately false result.

• If the S/CO ratio is <0.9, the result can be considered negative.
• If the S/CO ratio is 0.9 - 1.1, the result can be considered questionable.
• If the S/CO result is> 1.1, then the result can be considered positive.

[ 23 ], [ 24 ], [ 25 ], [ 26 ], [ 27 ], [ 28 ], [ 29 ], [ 30 ], [ 31 ], [ 32 ]

Cytomegalovirus test during pregnancy

Cytomegalovirus testing during pregnancy is very important during pregnancy. This type of virus easily penetrates the placenta into the fetus and not only causes infection, but also affects the formation of severe developmental defects. Antibody testing is performed in the first trimester of pregnancy to assess the probable risk to the fetus as it develops. The rules for taking blood for cytomegalovirus testing are the same as for the entire TORCH complex.

If a woman has old antibodies to cytomegalovirus in her blood, this means that she has already been infected before, but now the presence of antibodies does not pose a visible threat to the fetus. To avoid exacerbation, drugs that increase immunity, as well as vitamin complexes, are recommended.

If antibodies of a different type are detected in the blood, characteristic of an acute infection, then it is necessary to be very serious about further pregnancy management. Even if the course of the disease itself did not clinically give a stormy picture in a woman, the fetus is exposed to the strongest impact in utero. At this stage, the woman is prescribed a complex of antiviral drugs and drugs responsible for immune modulation. In the future, the woman will need to undergo a "triple test" to make sure that the infection she suffered did not cause the formation of developmental defects in the fetus.

It is necessary to take a cytomegalovirus test during pregnancy as early as possible, but it is still safer to take a test for cytomegalovirus infection before conceiving a child in order to have an idea of further tactics or risk factors.

[ 33 ], [ 34 ], [ 35 ], [ 36 ], [ 37 ], [ 38 ], [ 39 ], [ 40 ]

Avidity test during pregnancy

Avidity analysis during pregnancy is a mandatory test, since cytomegalovirus infection is related to the TORCH complex, i.e. diseases that affect the productivity and health of the fetus. Testing for antibodies to diseases from this group is included in the list of mandatory tests not only for pregnant women, but also for those who are planning a pregnancy.

The concept of avidity (IgG antibodies act as an indicator of infection), that is, the presence of antibodies to a particular pathogen, indicates that the expectant mother may be a carrier of the pathogen, have a chronic or acute form of the disease. Depending on the forms of antibodies in the blood, their quantity, it is possible to determine the approximate time of infection. For reproductive infections, this is very important, since the earlier this information is available, the greater the chances of a successful pregnancy outcome. Avidity testing also provides a basis for additional tests, especially if the infection implies the development of anomalies in the internal organs of the fetus.

If IgG and IgM antibodies are detected in the blood, this indicates that the infection has occurred recently, since IgM antibodies usually disappear after 3 months or more, and reach the age of 2-3 years, depending on the pathogen and its concentration. It is also important to consider that in people with AIDS and HIV, antibodies in the blood may not be detected due to suppression of the immune system, and therefore in this case it is better to conduct PCR diagnostics.

In order not to risk the baby's health, it is better to take TORCH tests in a timely manner during pregnancy. The detection of IgM antibodies in the blood indicates an acute stage of the disease, and IgG antibodies indicate that the woman has either had the disease before or is a carrier.

[ 41 ], [ 42 ], [ 43 ], [ 44 ]