BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSerology for brucellosisBrucella serology; Brucella antibody test or titerSerology for brucellosis is a blood test to look for the presence of antibodies against Brucella. These are the bacteria that cause the disease brucellosis.AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BrucellosisBrucellosis is a bacterial infection that occurs from contact with animals carrying brucella bacteria.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed.Blood sample is neededVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test There is no special preparation. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed Brucellosis is an infection that occurs from coming into contact with animals that carry Brucella bacteria.Your health care provider may order this test if you have signs or symptoms of brucellosis. People who often come in contact with animals or meat are most likely to get this disease. This includes:Slaughterhouse workers Farmers Veterinarians Normal Results A normal (negative) result usually means you have not come in contact with the bacteria that causes brucellosis. However, this test may not detect the disease at an early stage. Your provider may have you come back for another test in 10 days to 3 weeks.Infection with other bacteria, such as Yersinia spp., Francisella spp., and Vibrio spp., and certain immunizations can cause false-positive results.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean An abnormal (positive) result usually means you have come in contact with the bacteria that causes brucellosis or a closely related bacteria.However, this positive result does not mean that you have an active infection. Your provider will have you repeat the test after a few weeks to see if the test result increases. This increase is more likely to be a sign of a current infection. Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) HematomaA bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Excessive bleeding Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)Open ReferencesReferencesGul HC, Erdem H. Brucellosis (Brucella species). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 226.Wojewoda CM, Stempak LM. Medical bacteriology. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 57.AllVideoImagesTogBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationBrucellosis - illustration Brucellosis is a disease that starts with flu-like symptoms. Complications may include arthritis, heart disease and brain damage.BrucellosisillustrationBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationBrucellosis - illustration Brucellosis is a disease that starts with flu-like symptoms. Complications may include arthritis, heart disease and brain damage.Brucellosisillustration Tests for Serology for brucellosis Serology for brucellosisRelated Information Antibody(Special Topic)Brucellosis(Condition) Review Date: 12/31/2023 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Serology for brucellosisBrucella serology; Brucella antibody test or titerSerology for brucellosis is a blood test to look for the presence of antibodies against Brucella. These are the bacteria that cause the disease brucellosis.AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BrucellosisBrucellosis is a bacterial infection that occurs from contact with animals carrying brucella bacteria.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed.Blood sample is neededVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test There is no special preparation. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed Brucellosis is an infection that occurs from coming into contact with animals that carry Brucella bacteria.Your health care provider may order this test if you have signs or symptoms of brucellosis. People who often come in contact with animals or meat are most likely to get this disease. This includes:Slaughterhouse workers Farmers Veterinarians Normal Results A normal (negative) result usually means you have not come in contact with the bacteria that causes brucellosis. However, this test may not detect the disease at an early stage. Your provider may have you come back for another test in 10 days to 3 weeks.Infection with other bacteria, such as Yersinia spp., Francisella spp., and Vibrio spp., and certain immunizations can cause false-positive results.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean An abnormal (positive) result usually means you have come in contact with the bacteria that causes brucellosis or a closely related bacteria.However, this positive result does not mean that you have an active infection. Your provider will have you repeat the test after a few weeks to see if the test result increases. This increase is more likely to be a sign of a current infection. Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) HematomaA bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Excessive bleeding Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)Open ReferencesReferencesGul HC, Erdem H. Brucellosis (Brucella species). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 226.Wojewoda CM, Stempak LM. Medical bacteriology. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 57.