TORCH-5 IgM Profile Test

TORCH is an acronym from five potential infectious agents that can be transmitted from mother to foetus through the placenta. These viruses can cause serious congenital malformations especially when mother acquires the infection for the first time during the first trimester.
The full form of TORCH is toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex (HSV).

A class of viral infections can affect pregnant women. These prenatal infections could lead to infants with birth abnormalities. When a baby exhibits any symptoms suggestive of such infections, such as mental disabilities, deafness, heart problems, cataracts, or jaundice, or if you have been subjected to certain communicable diseases or just become ill while pregnant, this test is required. The avoidance of problems in newborns is aided by early detection and treatment.

What is the TORCH-5 IgM test?

The Torch 5 Antibodies IgM ELISA Blood Test is intended to identify IgM antibodies in the blood against five infections in the panel that may affect pregnant women (perinatal infections). The abbreviation TORCH stands for the five possible infectious agents, Toxoplasma, Other (HIV, hepatitis virus, varicella-zoster virus, parvovirus), rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV), that might spread from the mother to the fetus via the placenta. These viruses have the potential to result in severe birth defects, particularly when the mother contracts the illness for the first time during the initial trimester.

Who Should Do the TORCH-5 IgM Test?

Pregnant women are subjected to this test to look for any of the five suggestive illnesses on the panel. Birth abnormalities in neonates may be avoided by early detection and management of such prenatal infections. This test is carried out during a woman's initial prenatal appointment as part of a regular examination. Additionally, this test is advised for newborns who exhibit any symptoms or telltale indicators of the infections on the panel.

What Other Tests Are Ordered Along with the TORCH-5 IgM Test?

1. TORCH IgG - When a person has previously had an infection or is dealing with an infection with or without the development of symptoms, IgG antibodies against the viral pathogen will be present. This test is thus done to confirm exposure to the pathogen.
2. IgG avidity testing - A helpful serological test for toxoplasmosis is the IgG avidity test, which in many instances can confirm or rule out the disease's active form.
3. Amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling - Two prenatal diagnostic procedures are chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. Genetic abnormalities can be detected with either of the two tests.

Written by: Dr R.Lakshmi Priya, M.B.B.S, MD, Dept. of Microbiology and Molecular Biology