Torch Panel

There are several infectious diseases that can cause defects in unborn babies. The TORCH test checks for many of them, enabling early detection and treatment that can prevent birth complications.

Overview

What is the TORCH test?

Certain infections carry increased risk for unborn babies. Rubella is perhaps the most widely known infection which has little effect on adults yet can be life threatening to babies, but several other infections and parasites can cause conditions ranging from deafness and jaundice to HIV and heart defects.

The TORCH test checks for the presence of antibodies which indicate a range of infections, including:

• Toxoplasmosis
• Other conditions including HIV, hepatitis, measles, mumps, Epstein Barr virus and syphilis
• Rubella
• CMV (Cytomegalovirus)
• HSV (Herpes Simplex virus)

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can be contracted through eating infected meat, drinking unpasteurised milk or by coming into contact with infected cat faeces.

It can cause birth defects or miscarriage depending on the stage of pregnancy at which the mother contracted the illness.

Rubella

German measles can cause a wide range of birth defects from deafness to heart disease, slowed growth rate to brain, liver or lung damage. It can also cause still birth or miscarriage. You can find more about specific rubella testing here.

Cytomegalovirus

CMV may be passed to the unborn baby during pregnancy, or during infancy via a mother’s milk. Infection typically offers few signs at birth, but hepatitis, hearing loss, lack of mental capacity and blood disorders can all become apparent later.

Herpes Simplex Virus

If you’ve ever had a cold sore, you’ll carry the HSV virus. It usually will be transmitted to a baby as it travels along the birth canal of a mother infected with genital herpes. In babies, HSV can cause organ and nervous system damage, so it’s important to begin antiviral treatment as soon as HSV is diagnosed.

How can this test help me?

If you are infected by any of the above conditions your body will produce antibodies which indicate either a current infection or a past infection. A negative result will indicate no infection.

So, if you are pregnant and you want to understand whether an existing or past infection presents a risk to your unborn baby, or if you want to check that your newborn baby is free from infection, this test can help.

How do I get tested?

For unborn babies, we use a simple test of mum’s blood. The test presents no risk to your baby. For newborns, a heel prick blood test is all that’s required.

To get tested please contact Better2Know your Body on the number above or click book now.