TORCH Test: Price, Purpose, Procedures, & Test Results 

• Cost
• Purpose
• Preparation
• Procedure
• Result
• Risks
• Conclusion
• FAQs

TORCH test helps in preventing complications in newborn babies. It test stands for “Toxoplasmosis, Other (HIV, hepatitis virus, varicella, parvovirus, syphilis), Rubella and Simplex virus“. This test diagnoses the infections that transmit from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy. 

It is used to determine whether the mother was exposed to certain illnesses while she was pregnant and whether the baby had these infections as well. In order to find out if the mother has ever been exposed to any of these illnesses and to evaluate the risk of infection in the fetus, the test is often performed during the first trimester of pregnancy. The test’s outcomes can inform choices on prenatal care and pregnancy management.

Understanding the various terms

Bacteria: These are disease-causing microorganisms. These can’t be seen with naked eyes. They are living outside your body. Once they enter your body, they multiply. An example of bacteria is Toxoplasmosis. The name Toxoplasma itself suggests Toxic to plasma.

Virus: The virus does not fall into absolute living and absolute non-living. They behave like dead outside your body and living inside your body. These Viruses include HIV, hepatitis, varicella, parvovirus, and syphilis. 

Torch Test Details in Brief

Also Known As	CT Chest, Chest CT, CT Thorax, HRCT Chest, CECT Chest, CECT Thorax
Purpose	Lung infection, COVID severity, TB, pneumonia & tumours.
Preparation	No special preparation required. 4-6 Hours fasting required for CECT Chest
Fasting	No
Machine Used	CT Scanner (Preferably minimum 8 slices)
Reporting Time	8 to 24 Hrs.
Cost	Rs. 2000 to Rs. 6000

Cost

Purpose

Infection during pregnancy can affect the baby in the womb. The baby can get infected in the first 3-4 months of pregnancy. Each disease included under the TORCH panel has specific signs and symptoms.

The purpose of the tests is as given below –

• To prevent infections that can cause congenital disabilities, growth delay, and problems in the brain and nervous system in the fetus.
• To rule out infection in women causing recurrent miscarriage and infertility.
• To detect any infections in a newborn baby.

When to get tested for the TORCH test?

TORCH test is helpful in the early detection of subsequent infections.

1. Toxoplasmosis 

The Toxoplasma gondii bacteria causes a parasitic infection. The parasites are microorganisms that start living in the host’s body from where they are absorbing the nutrition. The symptoms of these infections are

Hearing impairment: The Toxoplasma gondii bacteria impairs the conductive neural. In the conductive neural interruption, there is an error in travelling sound signals to the brain. It involves a delay in listening and responding to the voice. 

Miscarriage: It involves the death of the unborn child in the womb. The Torch test after miscarriage is useful for the identification of any infection in the mother. These bacteria can travel in the bloodstream and may attack the newly developing baby in the uterus. 

Loss of vision or other birth defects in the baby: The Torch test in pregnancy can be helpful in the prevention of loss of eyesight and vision in the unborn baby. Toxoplasma gondii is a highly dangerous bacteria. 

2. Rubella

The Rubella virus eventually causes a sore throat and rashes on the whole body.  Rubella infection may affect heart function, mental health, hearing problems, eyesight issues, etc.

3. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

The CMV from the mother’s blood can be transferred to the baby from the placenta route. Cytomegalovirus may reach the fetus through the placenta or through breast milk. It may affect mental growth, hearing disorder, epileptic seizures, etc., in newborns. The virus could infect Mothers if they go through sexual contact or exposure to body fluids like saliva and blood from a person who has CMV.

4. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)

Herpes simplex virus is of 2 types. Both types can severely affect the vital organs of the newborn. The infection is transmitted to the baby during vaginal delivery. 

5. Syphilis

Sometimes TORCH is also referred to as TORCH, where ‘S’ stands for syphilis.

6. Other (HIV, hepatitis virus, varicella, parvovirus, syphilis) 

All these infections can pass to the baby and cause severe life-threatening problems. HIV, the Human immunodeficiency virus, causes AIDS. Hepatitis disease causes inflammation in the liver. 

What TORCH profile does the IgG & IgM test detect?

Infections caused by the above pathogens result in the production of antibodies (immunoglobulins IgG and IgM). These immunoglobulins are detected in the blood sample. IgG is detected days after the infection occurs, whereas IgM can be detected immediately after the infection. 

So, the TORCH test identifies the presence of the following-

• Toxoplasma gondii IgG, IgM
• Rubella virus IgG, IgM
• Cytomegalovirus IgG, IgM
• Herpes Simplex virus IgG, IgM

The doctor may recommend a TORCH test in newborns when certain signs are present.

Preparation

1. Let the medical professional know whether you are currently taking any medications.
2. Tell your doctor if you’re expecting or nursing a baby.
3. Let the doctor know if you’ve ever had diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, allergies, asthma, or clotting issues.
4. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for fasting or any other necessary pre-test preparation.
5. Inform your healthcare provider if there is a thyroid disorder history.
6. Dress loosely-fitting and comfortably.
7. Follow with any other test-related instructions that your doctor may have given you.

Procedure

TORCH test is done by withdrawing a sample of blood. The lab technician collects the required sample by vein puncture from the arms.

The test procedure simply involves the following steps.

• The technician will clean the skin around with the help of cotton gauze. 
• After cleaning, an elastic band is wrapped around the arm to make the vein easier to find the vein.
• The technician or physician will withdraw a blood sample from a vein in your arm using a syringe. 
• The technician will remove the elastic band and stop the bleeding with the help of a cotton ball or bandage.
• The technician takes out a small amount of blood and collects it into a test tube or vial. 
• The patient may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes around 5 to 10 minutes.

Result and Normal Values

The TORCH test result is normal if the report is negative. The test result shows the recent, ongoing or old infection. The table below depicts the result interpretation depending upon the presence and absence of IgG and IgM antibodies. 

IgG	IgM	Interpretation
Negative	-ve	Negative result (no previous or latest infection)
Positive	+ve	Positive result (presence of recent infection)
Negative	+ve	Most recent infection
Positive	-ve	Old infection which is cured

If a mother or newborn baby has a positive TORCH result, the healthcare provider will recommend other tests to diagnose the infection. 

Risk

There is no risk associated with the TORCH test. Some may have bruises or infections at the site of vein puncture.

There are additional risks associated with overdiagnosis (false-positive results) and underdiagnosis (false-negative results). Thus, it is important to discuss with your healthcare provider and weigh the potential benefits and risks of the test before making a decision

Conclusion

To find infections in newborns, doctors perform a series of tests called the TORCH test. When a mother is pregnant, she can transmit Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes to her unborn child, which can have major health consequences. It can assist in figuring out if the infant has ever been exposed to any of these illnesses. 

Before choosing a course of action, it is crucial to talk with a healthcare expert and consider the pros and cons of the test. In the case that the test is positive, quick medical attention can be provided to the infant in order to either cure or lessen the severity of the sickness.

It is crucial to remember that even if the test is negative, regular check-ups with the healthcare provider are always advised because infection cannot always be eliminated by a negative test result.

FAQs