Vitamin D 25-Hydroxy Blood Test: A Complete Patient Guide to Understanding Your Results and Improving Bone Health
A blood test that detects antibodies against Rickettsia conorii bacteria, which causes Mediterranean spotted fever, using immunofluorescence technique.
{"This test checks if your immune system has produced antibodies against Rickettsia conorii bacteria","Mediterranean spotted fever is transmitted through tick bites, commonly from dogs","The test uses immunofluorescence to detect antibodies in your blood serum","Results help confirm if you have been infected with this bacteria","Early diagnosis is important as the disease can become severe without proper treatment"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 29702-8
- Short code
- RICKCON
- Synonyms
- R conorii Ab Ser Ql IF
- Category
- cardiac
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Serum separator tube (SST) or red top vacuum tube
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 0
- Ref high
- 1
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 0–120 years
- Method
- Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)
- CPT
- 86757
- SNOMED
- 414529004
- Specimen volume
- 1.0-2.0 mL of serum
- Stability
- Room temperature: 24 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days; Frozen (-20°C or below): 30 days. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 50
- Lipemia max
- 300
- Icterus max
- 40
- TAT
- 48–96 hours
- Order
- routine
The Vitamin D 25-Hydroxy blood test is a simple laboratory analysis that measures the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in your bloodstream to determine if you have a deficiency or excess.
The Rickettsia conorii antibody test is a laboratory test that looks for specific antibodies in your blood serum. Antibodies are proteins your immune system produces to fight infections. This test uses a method called immunofluorescence to detect whether your blood contains antibodies specifically targeting Rickettsia conorii, the bacteria that causes Mediterranean spotted fever (also known as boutonneuse fever).
Your doctor may order this Vitamin D test if you have symptoms like fatigue, bone pain, or muscle weakness, or to monitor conditions affecting calcium absorption and bone health.
Your doctor may order this test if you have symptoms of Mediterranean spotted fever, especially if you live in or have recently traveled to areas where this disease is common (such as the Mediterranean region, Africa, or South Asia). Common symptoms include high fever, severe headache, a distinctive rash, and often a dark scab (tache noire) at the site of a tick bite. The test helps confirm whether your symptoms are caused by this specific Rickettsia infection.
A healthcare professional will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm using a needle and vial, and the sample is sent to a lab for analysis of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D level.
A healthcare professional will draw a small blood sample from a vein in your arm. This blood sample will be sent to a laboratory where technicians will use immunofluorescence techniques to detect the presence of Rickettsia conorii antibodies in your serum. The test is typically qualitative, meaning it shows whether antibodies are present or not (positive or negative result).
Results are typically reported in ng/mL; a level below 20 ng/mL suggests deficiency, 20-50 ng/mL is adequate, and above 50 may indicate excess, guiding your treatment plan.
A positive result indicates that antibodies against Rickettsia conorii were detected in your blood, suggesting you have been infected with the bacteria that causes Mediterranean spotted fever. A negative result means no antibodies were detected. However, it takes time for the body to produce detectable antibodies, so early in the infection the test may be negative. Your doctor will interpret the results along with your symptoms, physical exam, and other test findings.
Reference range
Negative: <1:40 titer; Equivocal: 1:40 titer; Positive: ≥1:80 titer (consider clinical correlation)N/A
No fasting required. No special preparation needed. Inform physician of any recent infections, travel history, or exposure to tick-borne areas.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Mediterranean spotted fever is a tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia conorii. It is typically transmitted through the bite of infected brown dog ticks. While often presenting with mild symptoms, the disease can become severe, especially in older adults, immunocompromised patients, or those with underlying health conditions. Cardiac complications such as myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) can occur in severe cases, which may explain the cardiac category classification for this test. Early detection and treatment with appropriate antibiotics (typically doxycycline) are important to prevent serious complications.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before this test?
Is the test painful?
How long does it take to get results?
Can this test tell if I have an active infection?
What happens if my test is positive?
Sources
- 1
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Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 14, 2026. · Read our editorial policy