Why am I having this test?
TORCH is a blood test used to check for several infectious diseases that can cause illness in pregnant women and may cause birth defects in babies. TORCH stands for the different infections the test screens for, which are:
Toxoplasmosis.
Rubella.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Other infections, such as hepatitis B, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), human parvovirus, enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, syphilis, parvovirus B19, or chicken pox (varicella-zoster virus).
You may have the TORCH test done if you are a pregnant woman and your health care provider thinks you might have one of these infections. These infections in a pregnant woman can cause birth defects in the baby.
What is being tested?
The TORCH test checks for antibodies to these infections. …show more content…
Immunoglobulin G (IgG).
What kind of sample is taken?
A blood sample is required for this test. It is usually collected by inserting a needle into a blood vessel.
How are the results reported?
Results will be reported as either positive or negative for either type of antibody.
A false-positive result can occur. A false positive is incorrect because it means that a condition is present when it is not. All positive TORCH tests should be followed-up with more specific tests to confirm.
What do the results mean?
Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean. Possible results include:
Negative for IgM and IgG means that infection is unlikely. You may have more testing to confirm the results.
Negative for IgM and positive for IgG means that you may have had a previous infection that most likely did not pass to your baby. You may have a second TORCH test in a few weeks to compare levels.
Positive for IgM means that you may have a current infection, or you may have had recent infection with one or more of the TORCH infections. You may need more tests to determine the exact type of infection.
Questions to ask your health care