Q fever
Innatoss Laboratories has launched a unique test for Q fever diagnosis: Q-detect™ is the first cell-mediated immunity test for Coxiella burnetii. Infections can be detected years after exposure to the bacteria, even when antibodies have decayed.
Olde Loohuis, GP in Herpen (NL) during the Dutch Q fever epidemic
“I am still very concerned about chronic Q fever. This disease is extremely serious and can have deadly consequences. Especially in the province of Noord-Brabant, many cases are still to be found. It pleases me to see that specifically in our region a better diagnostic test was developed and is being performed. With the new cellular test we seem to have a better tool to trace persons infected with the Q fever bacterium Coxiella, who are running the risk of disease manifestations.”
Importance of diagnosing Q fever
Diagnosing an infection with Coxiella burnetii is important for many reasons:
- in the acute and chronic phase, for timely treatment with antibiotics
- chronic fatigue patients may have Q fever Fatigue Syndrome
- when treatment with immunesuppressive drugs is started, it is important to be aware of previous exposure to Coxiella. In case of unexpected febrile symptoms caused by activation of lingering Q fever, correct treatment can be initiated
More information
Excellent information on Q fever, its symptoms and treatments can be found below.
- Medscape
- Australian Q fever register
For professionals
More information on our unique Cell-mediated immunity test for Coxiella burnetii is available under Products.
Innatoss Laboratories has extensive knowledge and experience on Q fever diagnostics and the related immune response. We happily contribute to projects on this topic. Our expertise has already been used by the Dutch Ministery of Health, Welfare and Sports and the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Literature
- Schoffelen T, et al. Specific interferon γ detection for the diagnosis of previous Q fever. Clin Infect Dis. (2013)
- Wielders, CC. Long term follow-up of acute Q fever patients after a large epidemic. (2014)
- Schoffelen T, et al. Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever) in rheumatoid arthritis patients with and without anti-TNFα therapy. (2014)
- Graves, Editorial: A New Assay: Specific Interferon-gamma Detection for the Diagnosis of Q Fever (2013)