A positive test may not necessarily indicate active infection, since antibodies may persist for years. The titer is not directly correlated with the severity of the infection, due to the variance in patient response and to the variance in response to the type of infection. A negative response is equally important, as long as ample time has been allowed for antibody production.

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

Immediatley following collection, mix sample by inverting 5 times

1. Allow sample to clot for a minimum of 30 minutes
2. Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

Red serum vial/tube, 5 mL

1. Allow sample to clot
2. Spin
3. Transfer serum to a Transfer vial/tube with cap - 12mL (LabCorp), labelled as serum, within two (2) hours of sample collection

Transfer vial/tube with cap - 12mL (LabCorp)

Refrigerated

• Gross hemolysis
• Lipemia
• Bacterial contamination

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)

Negative

The antibody response is greatest in amebic liver abscesses, less in intestinal amebiasis, and still less (or negligible) in asymptomatic cyst passers.

Serological results have been shown to detect 90% to 100% of amebic liver abscesses, 80% to 100% of symptomatic intestinal amebiasis, and 10% to 50% of asymptomatic cyst passers.