Ordering Recommendation

Use to detect presence of Japanese encephalitis-related IgG and IgM antibodies in individuals with evidence of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) who have recently traveled to or resided in an endemic country in Asia or the western Pacific. Patient's travel history is necessary to aid in test interpretation. Testing should also be considered for other arthropod-borne viruses with similar symptomology based on clinical presentation and travel history. 

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Serum separator tube

Specimen Preparation

Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 0.5 mL serum to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.15 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Unacceptable Conditions

Contaminated or heat-inactivated specimens

Remarks
Stability

After separation from cells: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 6 months (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)

Methodology

Semi-Quantitative Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Performed

Thu

Reported

1-8 days

Reference Interval

Test Number
Components
Reference Interval
  Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antibody IgM 6.0 IV or less
  Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antibody IgG 5.0 IV or less

Interpretive Data

Patients in the early stage of JEV infection may not have a detectable level of IgG antibody; IgG response may take several days to several weeks to develop. In the absence of detectable IgG antibody, testing for IgM-class antibody is strongly recommended. A positive result (5.1 IV or greater) indicates the presence of IgG antibody to a Flavivirus in the Japanese encephalitis serogroup or the dengue virus serogroup. Cross-species plaque reduction neutralization tests on paired acute and convalescent sera are an acceptable means of determining the Flavivirus causing the antibody production.

A positive result (6.1 IV or greater) indicates the presence of IgM antibody to a flavivirus in the Japanese encephalitis serogroup or the dengue virus serogroup. The best evidence of current infection is a significant change on two appropriately timed specimens with both tests performed in the same laboratory at the same time.


Component
Unit Of Measure
Interpretation
Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antibody IgG 1.9 IV or less
2.0 - 5.0 IV
5.1 IV or greater
Negative - No significant level of detectable Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) IgG antibody.
Equivocal - Questionable presence of JEV IgG antibody. Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
Positive - JEV IgG antibody detected, which may indicate a current or past infection.
Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antibody IgM 3.9 IV or less
4.0 -6.0 IV
6.1 IV or greater
Negative - No significant level of detectable Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) IgM antibody.
Equivocal - Questionable presence of JEV IgM antibody. Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
Positive - JEV IgM antibody detected, which may indicate a current or recent infection. A low IgM antibody level may occasionally persist for more than 12 months post-infection.

Compliance Category

Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

86790 x2

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
2005686 Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antibody IgM 63562-3
2005688 Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antibody IgG 7934-3
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • JE Virus Antibodies
  • JE Virus IgG, IgM
Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antibodies, IgG and IgM by ELISA