Parainfluenza Virus IgM Test

An IgM test or Immunoglobulin M test is a very common test that counts the Immunoglobulin M quantities in a person’s blood sample. Immunoglobulins are chemicals that our bodies synthesize to combat an antigen or harmful organism. The IgM is the first antibody synthesized in our body to fight a new infection. It tests blood and lymphatic fluid to check whether or not the first response to a new infection is fully functional or not. Infection from human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) is easy to detect by polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence method, isolation method, or from observation of serum specimens.

It is recommended that the person taking the blood sample should either wear a sleeveless or a short-sleeved shirt for convenience. Wearing a shirt with full-sleeves that can easily be rolled-up is also fine. There is no need to disturb the patient’s diet routine before the procedure. They can eat and drink normally. Though, if blood samples are taken to be used for further different tests as well, the doctor will send prior notice and recommendations. In that case, the patient may need to fast for a few hours. It is best to stick to the particular instructions provided by the lab.

The fundamental idea behind HPIV IgM is to take a blood sample to test in laboratories for the antibody count. Even for the fluorescence method, where no blood sample is taken, but rather, the respiratory residue is tested, the idea is the same – count the antibody levels. Some of the uses are: Detects HPIV1 and HPIV2 which can cause upper and lower respiratory tract illness. HPIV1 is most frequently observed in children. Detects HPIV3 which is mostly associated with bronchitis, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis. Detects HPIV4 which can cause severe respiratory tract illness. All of the above are highly contagious droplet infections and their mitigation is paramount.

A few milliliters which are roughly two teaspoons of blood sample would be obtained directly. The blood sample can be taken at numerous sites like at doctor's clinic, test center, and infirmaries. An alcohol pad is used to clean the skin. A surgical needle is then injected through the skin into a vein that is easily accessible like the cephalic vein. The blood is dragged out from the needle by a nozzle, stored in a vessel, sealed, and labeled with the patient’s name. This sample is carried to the research laboratory for examination.