Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, is an opportunistic, zoonotic, obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that has the capacity to infect all endotherms including birds. While infection does not cause clinical illness in most animal species, it can cause acute life-threatening disease in some.
In others (particularly sheep and goats, but occasionally pigs), it multiplies in the placenta and foetus to cause reproductive disease during pregnancy.
The one step cassette style TOXO IgG/IgM test is a rapid test based on the principle of immunoassay combined with conjugated colloid gold technology. The TOXO test is a diagnostic device for qualitative detection of the total antibodies of TOXO in human serum (or plasma) specimen.
Purified recombinant antigens of TOXO are precoated onto membrane as a capture reagent on the test band region. During testing, the specimen reacts with the colored conjugate (TOXO antigen colloidal gold conjugate) which has been pre-coated on the test cassette. The mixture then migrates upward on the membrane chromatographically by capillary action to react with TOXO antigen on the membrane and generate a red band. Presence of the red band indicates a positive result. The color intensity will depend on the concentration of the antibody of TOXO present in the sample. This one step test is very sensitive and only takes about 15-20 minutes. Test results are read visually without any instrument.
For serum (or plasma), collect blood into a container without anticoagulant. If the specimen cannot be tested on the day of collection, store the serum (or plasma) specimen in a refrigerator or freezer. Bring the specimens to room temperature before testing.
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