Cysticercosis (Taenia solium) antibody Test

Your doctor will order this test if he/she suspects that you have symptoms of cysticercosis. 

It may take several months to years for the symptoms to appear after the initial infection. The symptoms may differ depending on the location, size, number and stage (degenerating, calcified etc.) of the cysts. Based on the location, the following symptoms may be seen:

• Ocular cysticercosis (cysts in the eyes) may cause:

  • Pain in the eyes
  • Loss of vision
  • Retinal detachment 
• Cysts that form under the skin may cause small lumps with no additional symptoms
• Cysts in the brain or the spinal cord (neurocysticercosis) may cause:
  • Seizures
  • Headaches 
  • Confusion
  • Lack of attention
  • Difficulty with balance
  • Accumulation of excess fluid around the brain

Some individuals with cysticercosis may show no or very mild symptoms.

You don't need special preparations for this test. Make sure to inform the doctor if you use any routine medications or health supplements. Also, tell him/her if you have recently travelled somewhere since that could be linked to the occurrence of this infection.

Your doctor will require a blood sample for this test. The sample will be withdrawn from a vein in your arm using a sterile needle. This is a quick procedure which only takes a few minutes. You may feel slight pain as the needle goes in. Also, some people tend to get lightheaded after the test or notice a bruise at the needle insertion site. However, these symptoms will subside soon. 

If you feel nervous or anxious at the sight of blood, tell your doctor or nurse so that they can look after you better. Talking to someone to distract yourself during the test can be helpful. Breathing for relaxation can be helpful too.

Normal results:

Normal results are reported as negative and indicate that no antibodies have been detected in your blood sample. However, a negative result does not ensure the absence of infection, as it may be possible that the sample was collected before you developed a detectable level of antibodies. A negative result may also occur if there are only a few cysts in your body or if the cysts are located in areas not easily accessible to the immune system. Hence, the test may be repeated if there is a high suspicion of cysticercosis. 

False-negative results may also occur in individuals with a severely compromised immune system.

Abnormal results:

Abnormal results are indicated as positive and suggest that you have cysticercosis. However, false-positive results may occur if you have infections caused by other parasitic worms, such as Echinococcus. Your doctor may perform other tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.