Bartonella Antibody Blood Test (Cat Scratch Disease Serology)

This test checks a sample of your blood for antibodies against Bartonella bacteria, which cause infections such as cat scratch disease. It helps your healthcare provider find out whether your symptoms are related to a Bartonella infection.

The Bartonella IgM Antibody test is a blood test that looks for IgM antibodies against Bartonella species (also known as Bartonella henselae and other related bacteria) in your blood. IgM antibodies are the first type of antibodies your immune system produces when fighting a new infection, so this test helps determine if you have a recent or ongoing infection.

You may need this test if you have swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, headache, or a sore near the site of a cat scratch or bite. Your provider may also order it if you have a weakened immune system or symptoms that suggest a Bartonella infection.

Your healthcare provider may order this test if you have symptoms suggesting a Bartonella infection, especially if you have been scratched or bitten by a cat. Common reasons include: a recent cat scratch or bite followed by fever, swollen lymph nodes, or a skin lesion; unexplained fever lasting more than a few days; or lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) near a cat scratch site.

A healthcare professional will clean your skin and draw a small sample of blood from a vein, usually in your arm. The sample is sent to a laboratory, where it is analyzed for antibodies that your immune system produces in response to Bartonella bacteria.

A healthcare professional will draw a small blood sample from a vein in your arm. The blood sample is then sent to a laboratory where it is tested for the presence of IgM antibodies against Bartonella bacteria. You do not need to fast or make any special preparations before this test.

A positive result means Bartonella antibodies were found in your blood, which may indicate a current or past infection. A negative result does not completely rule out infection, so your provider may repeat the test or order additional testing along with a physical exam and your medical history.

A positive IgM result indicates that you likely have a recent or current Bartonella infection, typically within the past 1-4 weeks. A negative result means no IgM antibodies were detected, which could mean you do not have an infection, or the infection is too early or too late in its course for IgM detection. Your healthcare provider will interpret the results in context with your symptoms and medical history.

Bartonella is a group of bacteria that can infect humans and animals. The most common type, Bartonella henselae, causes cat scratch disease, which is usually spread through scratches or bites from infected cats. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, headache, and swollen lymph nodes near the site of the scratch or bite.

Bartonella is a type of bacteria that can infect humans through various routes, most commonly through cat scratches or bites (causing cat-scratch disease, also known as cat-scratch fever). The most common species causing human infection is Bartonella henselae. Other species can cause different diseases, including trench fever (Bartonella quintana) and Carrion's disease (Bartonella bacilliformis).