Evaluating patients with suspected brucellosis. Test should only be requested if patient has tested positive or equivocal for IgG or IgM by a screening enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
Immediatley following collection, mix sample by gently inverting 5 times
Gold serum separator (SST) tube
Refrigerated (preferred) – 14 days
Frozen – 14 days
Ambient - NO
Agglutination
<1:80
In cases of suspected brucellosis, serology may assist in the diagnosis and play a supplementary role to routine culture. Antibodies to Brucella species may not become detectable until 1 to 2 weeks following the onset of symptoms, so serum specimens drawn during acute disease may be negative by serology in patients with brucellosis. If serology is performed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends that specimens testing positive or equivocal for IgG or IgM by a screening enzyme immunoassay (EIA) be confirmed by a Brucella-specific agglutination method.