How Can One Determine If a Person Has Had a Previous

Question

How can one determine if a person has had a previous illness with an organism?
A) Perform acute and convalescent IgM levels.
B) Perform acute and convalescent IgG levels.
C) Perform an IgM level 1 week after the symptoms start.
D) Perform an IgG level 1 week after the symptoms start.

Accepted Answer

IgG levels can indicate previous exposure to an organism, as IgG antibodies are typically produced after the initial exposure and remain in the body for years, providing immunity to future infections. Acute and convalescent IgG levels can be compared to determine if there has been a change in antibody titers, indicating recent infection. IgM levels are typically produced in response to a current infection, so they may not be useful in determining previous exposure.