Pregnancy-relevant infections

Clinical information

The term TORCH encompasses all infectious agents that can be transferred from mother to child in the uterus, during birth or after birth via vertical infection. It includes Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and other pathogens such as Chlamydia trachomatis, parvovirus B19, Treponema pallidum and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Primary infections during pregnancy are especially feared, since they are associated with an increased risk of damage to the child.

Diagnostics

Analysis of antibodies against TORCH parameters is an essential part of pre-, peri- and postnatal care. The tests allow the immune status of the mother to be established and the risks to an existing pregnancy assessed. TORCH tests are generally performed during the first trimester of pregnancy, but they can also be carried out on the newborn if an infection is suspected. The initial investigation of antibodies against TORCH pathogens is aimed at determining the immune status of the mother in order to be able to differentiate between acute primary and past infections or reactivations during the course of pregnancy. If diagnosed early, TORCH infections can in part be effectively treated, reducing the risk of birth defects or loss of the foetus.