Pediatria pre prax 2/2004
Serologická vyšetření a interpretace serologických nálezů
SEROLOGIC EXAMINATIONS AND INTERPRETATION OF SEROLOGIC FINDINGS By means of the serologic examination we can detect both the microbial antigens and antibodies against them. While the positive finding of microbial antigens points to the presence of a microorganism in the body, the finding of antibodies provides only circumstantial evidence for the possible presence of the microbe and such result is often interpreted incorrectly. Essentially, there are two reasons for the serologic examination. The first one is simply the necessity to know if the person examined has antibodies against the agent in question. Here the interpretation of the result is easy. In the second case, the question hidden behind the inquiry if the patient has antibodies or not, is entirely different: namely, if the patient is experiencing the infection caused by the agent in question. Since the serologic results do not equate with medical diagnosis, theircorrect interpretation is difficult, if not impossible. For the diagnostic purposes we must usually examine two specimens of the serum and demonstrate significant changes in the titre of antibodies. Examples are given when it is exceptionally possible to diagnose an infection from the serologic result of the single specimen. Generally, the interpretation must take into account: 1. the kind of the infectious agent, 2. the pathogenesis of infection, 3. the individual reactivity and the age of the patient, 4. the information about the duration of the illness, and 5. technical data as the type of serologic reaction and the antigen used. The attending physician should have adequate knowledge of serologic methods and the laboratory worker should be informed about the disease and about the individual patient in question. Key words: serology, antigen detection, antibody detection, antibody titre, interpretation of results.
