Cut-off ranges between a laboratory negative and a laboratory positive sample are comparable for most clinical laboratories. In fact, a positive antibody test by itself implies nothing. Later in disease the titer falls. For this reason, the testing of paired samples 4 to 6 weeks apart improves the diagnostic efficiency. Diagnosis based on antibody response requires the seroconversion of infected individuals toward production of anti-Babesia antibodies.
Antibodies often persist long after the symptoms have disappeared.
Polyclonal antibody-based tests lack specificity. For Babesiosis Nucleic acid based diagnostic tests impart enhanced performance, when compared to currently available microbiological and immunological methods for the detection of parasites in test samples. These are direct assays for the presence of the parasite and have the consequent potential to identify the etiological agent. The assay is independent of the host's immune response schedule. Therefore, much earlier detection of the parasite is possible.