In the TORCH Panel, a check is made on:
Toxoplasmosis (Toxo) is a parasitic infection that can be passed from mother to baby through the placenta during pregnancy. It affects the eyes, the central nervous system, the brain, and the muscles. It causes miscarriages, birth defects in the fetus, or even necrosis. It is transmitted by contact with the feces of infected cats, unpasteurized goat's milk, and by consumption of infected meat.
Rubella is the measles virus. It causes heart disease, delayed growth, hearing loss, blood disorders, vision problems, or pneumonia in infants. In children, central nervous system disease, immune disorders, or thyroid disease.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a viral infection that generally does not cause illness in adults
Transmission to babies occurs at birth and through breast milk. It causes hearing loss, vision problems, mental retardation, pneumonia, and seizures.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common viral infection that is usually transmitted through oral or genital contact. In newborns, it is transmitted during normal birth with the possibility of causing permanent damage to their central nervous system.
The control of the above is done by measuring the antibodies against the corresponding infectious agents:
- IgG These are giving positive results due to past infection or after vaccination (where available), and provide immunity to the body from the corresponding infection
- IgM These are the antibodies of the proto-infection and indicate possible active infection during sampling
Other infections that can commonly be screened for in addition to TORCH include assays for:
- syphilis - VDRL or treponema
- hepatitis B /C
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- enterovirus
- the Epstein-Barr virus
- varicella-zoster virus
- parvovirus B19.
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