Course Overview

Serological Testing for Screening and Diagnosis – Focus on Congenital Infections

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Module Description

This module provides a comprehensive overview of serological testing for cytomegalovirus (CMV), Toxoplasma gondii, and rubella during pregnancy.
It examines the challenges of assay standardization, differences across immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and avidity results, and their interpretation in clinical practice.
Participants will gain insight into how assay variability, timing of infections, and patient-specific factors influence diagnosis, monitoring, and risk assessment.
The module emphasizes the conceptual understanding of serology, rather than reliance on specific products, highlighting how quantitative and qualitative results inform decision-making.
Specialists in obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, clinical microbiology, immunology, and laboratory diagnostics will benefit from applying these principles to screening and patient management.

Learning Objectives

  • ‎‎Assess the impact of assay variability on IgG and IgM results for CMV, ‎Toxoplasma, and rubella by comparing at least two scenarios demonstrating ‎differences in thresholds, antigen composition, and international standards.‎
  • ‎Interpret avidity testing results to exclude recent infections in pregnant patients, ‎applying case-based timelines to differentiate infections older than four months from ‎recent exposures.‎
  • ‎Evaluate discrepancies between low-positive and negative results by outlining at ‎least two strategies for risk assessment and patient counseling without assuming ‎complete immunity.‎
  • ‎Apply principles of serological monitoring in immunocompromised patients by ‎analyzing one clinical scenario where passive antibody transfer or treatment could ‎confound IgG and IgM interpretation.‎
  • ‎Integrate quantitative and qualitative serology approaches into clinical decision-‎making by summarizing how assay standardization, timing, and avidity influence ‎diagnosis and management.‎
  • ‎Determine the appropriate role of nucleic acid testing (NAT) alongside serology ‎by identifying two clinical situations where NAT complements serological results to ‎guide early intervention and maternal-fetal risk assessment.‎

Course Lessons