TORCH Screening Test in Pregnant Women of Kirkuk City

Abstract

In the course of pregnancy, the developing fetus might have some infections that can be transmit to him transplacentally from his mother. Early identification and treatment of these infections in a neonates is essential. Prenatal caution comprehends a range of tests, involving a TORCH screen test.From the beginning of July till the end of December 2014. 500 blood samples were collected for TORCH screening from pregnant women whom attended virology section in Azadi Teaching Hospital. The TORCH screening was performed using ELISA technique.The result of TORCH screening tests was not differed significantly between year 2013 and 2014, but there was significant differences between the frequency of the microorganisms included in TORCH screening, the highest was for Cytomegalovirus and Rubella with rates of 29.2, 39.1 % and 30.3, 41.8 % for each of the two viruses respectively. Lower frequency was observed for Toxoplasma with rate of 9.5, 8.9 % followed by Herpes simplex virus with a rate of only 1.1, 2.6 %. High rate of mixed infection were between Cytomegalovirus and Rubella. The frequency of chronic infections were significantly higher comparing with acute and subacute cases. The rate of infections was not effected by patients age.Cytomegalovirus, Rubella and Toxoplasma are prevalent among pregnant women in Kirkuk city and probably they are the causative agents of abortion and infertility found among them, therefore it's better for pregnant woman or those planning to become pregnant to be tested for TORCH infections, and vaccinated against Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex virus and Toxoplasma to grantee her health as well as her baby.