Infectious Testing

At Innovate Biotech, infectious disease screening is performed using strip-based rapid test kits based on the principle of Immunochromatographic Testing (ICT), also known as Lateral Flow Testing.

This method is an immunological assay in which the sample flows across a test strip and reacts through antigen-antibody interactions, allowing results to be obtained rapidly and interpreted visually.

Our infectious testing services include:

Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. It can be transmitted through sexual contact or from mother to fetus during pregnancy. This screening test detects antibodies against Treponema pallidum in blood samples.

This screening test detects the surface antigen of the Hepatitis B virus in blood and is used to indicate current HBV infection. Individuals with a positive HBsAg result may be carriers of the virus. Most carriers remain clinically well and do not develop chronic hepatitis, although a minority may have chronic liver inflammation, which can be evaluated through elevated liver enzymes such as SGOT and SGPT.

This test detects antibodies against Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in blood to determine whether the body has developed immunity to Hepatitis B virus (HBV). A positive Anti-HBs result indicates immunity, either from prior vaccination or from past infection with subsequent recovery.

This test screens for antibodies against Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood to assess previous exposure or potential risk of infection.

This screening test detects antibodies against HIV-1 and HIV-2 in blood and is used for the initial assessment of HIV infection.

When assessment of infection severity or viral burden is required, HIV Viral Load testing is performed. This test measures the amount of HIV RNA in the blood using molecular methods such as Real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and reports the result as viral copies per milliliter (copies/mL).

Both tests serve different roles:

• Anti-HIV 1/2 is used for screening
• HIV Viral Load is used for monitoring viral levels and treatment effectiveness in infected individuals

This rapid screening test uses immunochromatographic principles to detect antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae, allowing convenient and rapid assessment of infection.

M. pneumoniae is a small bacterium measuring approximately 0.2–1.0 micrometers, lacking a cell wall and possessing a cholesterol-rich cell membrane. Its morphology is variable depending on environmental conditions. It is a facultative anaerobe and a free-living microorganism capable of causing disease in both humans and animals.

It is a common cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in older children and adults, including bronchitis and pneumonia. It may also cause extrapulmonary manifestations, such as:

• Myocarditis
• Encephalitis
• Arthritis
• Skin manifestations
• Mucositis

TORCH refers to a group of significant infections that can be transmitted from mother to fetus and may affect fetal development or cause congenital abnormalities.

TORCH stands for:

• T – Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii)
• O – Other infections such as Syphilis, Varicella-zoster, and Parvovirus B19
• R – Rubella
• C – Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• H – Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

Infection with TORCH pathogens during pregnancy may lead to serious consequences, including:

• Congenital abnormalities
• Developmental delay
• Neurological impairment
• Miscarriage or fetal loss

Diagnosis commonly involves blood testing for:

• IgM antibody → indicates acute or recent infection
• IgG antibody → indicates past infection or immunity