Quick answer
The TORCH Profile Test costs ₹2,500 at Live Line Health Care. Checks IgG and IgM antibodies to toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex. No fasting is needed. It uses a blood sample and the report is usually ready within 24 to 48 hours. Book home sample collection or visit any of our 45 centres.
Also known as: TORCH Test, TORCH Panel, TORCH IgG IgM, TORCH Infection Test, Toxoplasma Rubella CMV Herpes Test, Tourch Profile, TORCH Screening
What is the TORCH Profile Test?
TORCH is a memory aid for infections that can pass from a mother to her unborn baby and cause harm: Toxoplasmosis, Other infections, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes simplex. This profile tests for two kinds of antibody to four of them. IgG antibodies usually point to an infection some time in the past and often mean protection, while IgM antibodies may point to a recent or current infection. Reading the pair together is what gives the result its meaning.
The profile is most useful in specific situations: checking rubella immunity before planning a pregnancy, investigating a fever with rash in pregnancy, or looking for a cause when a scan shows concerning findings in the baby. It is often requested after repeated miscarriages, although specialists now regard TORCH infections as an uncommon cause of recurrent loss. A positive IgM on its own is frequently a false alarm or a long-lasting antibody, so it should never be the only basis for a major decision. Further tests, such as IgG avidity, help date an infection.
What it measures: IgG and IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, each reported as negative, equivocal or positive with an index or unit value.
Parameters included (8)
- Toxoplasma IgG
- Toxoplasma IgM
- Rubella IgG
- Rubella IgM
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM
- Herpes Simplex Virus 1 & 2 IgG
- Herpes Simplex Virus 1 & 2 IgM
Why is this test done?
- Checking immunity to rubella and other infections before planning a pregnancy
- Investigating fever, rash or swollen glands during pregnancy
- Evaluating scan findings such as poor growth or calcifications in the baby
- Assessing a newborn with signs that suggest an infection acquired before birth
- Part of a workup after pregnancy loss, when the doctor feels it is relevant
When should you get tested?
- You are planning a pregnancy and do not know whether you are immune to rubella
- Fever, rash, sore throat or swollen glands while pregnant
- Contact with someone with rubella or a rash illness during pregnancy
- Your scan has shown a growth problem or other concern in the baby
- Your doctor has asked for TORCH tests after a pregnancy loss
How to prepare for the TORCH Profile Test
- 1No fasting is needed.
- 2Bring any earlier TORCH, rubella or antenatal reports. Comparing with older results is often the key to dating an infection.
- 3Tell the staff about recent vaccines (especially MMR), blood or immunoglobulin transfusions, and whether you are pregnant and how many weeks.
TORCH Profile Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| Toxoplasma IgG / IgM | Negative, equivocal or positive, using the kit’s index cut-off |
| Rubella IgG | About 10 IU/mL or more is usually taken as immune |
| Rubella IgM | Negative, equivocal or positive, using the kit’s index cut-off |
| CMV IgG / IgM | Negative, equivocal or positive, using the kit’s index cut-off |
| HSV 1 & 2 IgG / IgM | Negative, equivocal or positive, using the kit’s index cut-off |
Antibody cut-offs differ between test kits, so read each result against the values printed on your report. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- IgG positive with IgM negative usually means a past infection or vaccination and some protection. For rubella, this is the result you want before pregnancy.
- IgG negative and IgM negative means no sign of past infection. For rubella, it means you are not immune, and your doctor will usually recommend the vaccine and waiting a month before trying to conceive.
- A positive IgM does not prove a recent infection. IgM can persist for months, and false positives are common. Doctors repeat the test after 2 to 3 weeks and often add an IgG avidity test.
- Most adults in India test IgG positive for CMV and HSV, showing a past infection. This is expected and rarely needs action on its own.
TORCH Profile Test – FAQs
What is the price of the TORCH Profile Test?
The TORCH Profile Test costs ₹2,500 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
Should every pregnant woman have a TORCH test?
Not usually. Many guidelines advise against routine TORCH screening in pregnancy because positive results are common and often misleading. Rubella immunity is the most useful part before pregnancy. The full profile is better reserved for symptoms, exposure or concerning scan findings, as your doctor decides.
What does a positive TORCH IgM result mean?
It may suggest a recent infection, but IgM can stay positive for months after an old infection and false positives are common. A positive IgM needs confirmation, usually with a repeat test and an IgG avidity test, before any decision. Please discuss it with your obstetrician before acting on it.
Can TORCH infections cause miscarriage?
Some of these infections, when caught for the first time during pregnancy, can cause pregnancy loss or harm the baby. However, they are an uncommon cause of repeated miscarriage, so a TORCH profile rarely explains recurrent loss. Your doctor may suggest other tests that are more useful in that situation.
What is the TORCH IgG avidity test?
Avidity measures how firmly IgG antibodies bind. Antibodies made early in an infection bind weakly, and they strengthen over a few months. High avidity suggests an infection more than about 3 to 4 months ago, which helps decide whether it happened before or during pregnancy. It is a separate test.
I am rubella IgG negative. What should I do?
If you are not pregnant, speak to your doctor about the MMR vaccine and avoid pregnancy for at least one month afterwards. If you are already pregnant, the vaccine is not given, so avoid contact with anyone with a rash illness and get vaccinated after delivery.
Where can I get the TORCH Profile Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore, or book home sample collection.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.