Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM)
Private Cat Scratch Fever Bartonella IgG+IgM blood test in London for £270, measuring one antibody profile with results expected in around 5 days.
Turnaround time
5 business days
Biomarkers count
1
Book your test
Choose Service Type
Professional phlebotomist comes to you
+ £{{ home_visit_fee }}
Visit our clinic for your test
{{ clinic_visit_fee > 0 ? '+ £' + clinic_visit_fee : 'Free' }}
Home Visit Details
Home visits require at least 24 hours notice.
Select a clinic: Sorting by distance…
{{ clinic.full_address }}
{{ selectedClinic.full_address }}
Select a date
Select an hour
Available time slots: {{ timeSlots.length}}
Overview of the Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM)
The Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM) blood test detects antibodies associated with infection by Bartonella bacteria, particularly Bartonella henselae.
The test contains 1 combined antibody profile: Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM).
Bartonella henselae is the principal bacterial cause of cat-scratch disease.
Cats can carry the organism without appearing unwell. Transmission to people is associated particularly with scratches, bites or contamination of broken skin, with cat fleas playing an important role in transmission between cats.
Kittens and younger cats are more commonly associated with Bartonella transmission than older cats.
In many otherwise healthy people, cat-scratch disease is self-limiting.
A small papule or lesion may initially develop near the site where the organism entered the skin, followed later by enlargement and tenderness of nearby lymph nodes.
The lymph nodes can remain enlarged for several weeks.
Some people experience fever, fatigue, headache or general malaise.
Less commonly, Bartonella infection can affect other organs and produce neurological, ocular, hepatic or systemic disease.
More serious or atypical infection can occur in people who are significantly immunocompromised.
This blood test detects the immune response to Bartonella rather than detecting the bacterium directly.
IgM antibodies may support relatively recent infection, whereas IgG can develop later and persist after previous exposure.
Serology is not perfect.
Antibodies may not yet be detectable during early infection, and measurable IgG can remain after the acute illness has resolved.
A positive antibody result therefore needs to be interpreted alongside cat exposure, symptom timing, lymph-node findings and the overall clinical picture.
What Does the Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM) Test Check?
This test measures 1 combined antibody profile.
Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM)
Detects IgG and IgM antibody responses associated with Bartonella infection to support investigation of suspected cat-scratch disease when interpreted alongside exposure history and clinical findings.
Who May Benefit From the Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM) Test?
Testing may be useful when compatible symptoms follow meaningful contact with a cat or kitten.
People with swollen lymph nodes following a cat scratch - Regional lymph-node enlargement is one of the characteristic presentations of cat-scratch disease.
People with swollen lymph nodes following a cat bite - Bartonella can enter through broken skin following direct animal contact.
People who developed a small skin lesion followed by nearby lymph-node swelling - This sequence can occur after Bartonella inoculation.
People with prolonged unexplained fever and significant cat exposure - Bartonella may be considered among several possible infectious causes.
People with substantial kitten exposure - Younger cats are more frequently associated with transmission of Bartonella henselae.
People with atypical symptoms and a relevant exposure history - Bartonella can occasionally produce neurological, ocular or systemic manifestations.
People who are immunocompromised and may have Bartonella infection - Infection can be more extensive in people with significantly impaired immunity.
People with an equivocal or previous negative early Bartonella test - Repeat testing can occasionally demonstrate an evolving antibody response.
People undergoing investigation of unexplained regional lymphadenopathy - Bartonella may form part of the differential diagnosis where cat exposure is relevant.
People specifically advised to obtain Bartonella IgG and IgM serology - The test can be arranged when requested by a GP, infectious-disease specialist or another clinician.
How to Prepare
Testing very early after exposure can produce negative serology before measurable antibodies have developed.
If clinical suspicion remains strong despite an early negative result, repeat or alternative testing may sometimes be considered by the treating clinician.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM) Test
The most characteristic presentation is regional lymph-node enlargement developing after a cat scratch or bite.
A small bump or lesion at the site of a cat scratch - A local inoculation lesion can develop before other symptoms appear.
Tender swollen lymph nodes near the scratch or bite - Regional lymphadenopathy is one of the most common features of cat-scratch disease.
Persistent enlarged lymph nodes - Bartonella-associated nodes can remain enlarged for several weeks.
Low-grade or persistent fever - Fever can occur during the acute immune response.
Fatigue or general malaise - Systemic tiredness is common during many infections, including cat-scratch disease.
Headache after compatible cat exposure - Headache can accompany the systemic illness but is not specific.
Reduced appetite - Some people experience non-specific constitutional symptoms.
Unexplained fever in an immunocompromised person with cat exposure - More extensive Bartonella disease may occur when immunity is significantly impaired.
A previous cat scratch followed by new unexplained symptoms - Exposure history can help determine whether Bartonella testing is clinically relevant.
These symptoms are not specific to Bartonella infection, and many other bacterial, viral, inflammatory and malignant conditions can cause enlarged lymph nodes or fever.
Persistently enlarging lymph nodes, severe systemic illness, neurological symptoms, eye symptoms or significant deterioration should be clinically assessed rather than attributed to cat-scratch disease from serology alone.
How to Book Your Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM) Test
Booking your Bartonella antibody blood test with London Blood Tests is straightforward.
Choose the Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM)
Select the specialist Bartonella antibody test online.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an in-clinic blood draw or professional home or hotel phlebotomy depending on location and availability.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the required venous blood sample.
Laboratory analysis
Your serum undergoes specialist analysis for Bartonella-associated IgG and IgM antibodies.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised serology result is delivered securely and can be interpreted alongside your exposure and clinical history.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The expected specialist laboratory turnaround is approximately 5 days after your blood sample reaches the laboratory.
Bartonella serology is a specialist infectious-disease investigation and normally takes longer than routine biochemical testing.
After the sample is received, the antibody analysis must be completed, quality-control requirements satisfied and the report authorised before release.
The turnaround begins from laboratory receipt rather than from the time your sample is collected.
If the result is equivocal or additional specialist investigation is required, such as repeat serology, molecular testing or another infectious-disease assay, this can extend the overall diagnostic process beyond the standard reporting time.
Understanding Your Results
A negative antibody result means significant Bartonella IgG or IgM reactivity was not detected by the assay at the time of testing.
This makes Bartonella infection less likely but does not completely exclude infection when testing has been performed very early.
A positive IgM result may support a relatively recent immune response, although IgM assays are not perfectly sensitive or specific.
A positive IgG result shows immune recognition of Bartonella and may reflect recent or previous exposure depending on the concentration, antibody pattern and clinical timing.
IgG can remain detectable after the acute infection has resolved.
This means a positive IgG result does not automatically prove that Bartonella is currently causing symptoms.
Where interpretation remains uncertain, comparison of appropriately timed antibody samples can sometimes provide stronger evidence of recent infection than one isolated measurement.
Atypical or severe disease may require additional investigations, including PCR, imaging, tissue assessment or specialist infectious-disease review.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
Private Bartonella testing in London - Access specialist Cat Scratch Fever serology privately.
IgG and IgM assessment - The profile considers different components of the antibody response.
Exposure history can be incorporated - Cat and kitten contact can be considered when interpreting the result.
Useful during lymph-node investigation - Bartonella is one potential cause of regional lymphadenopathy following cat exposure.
Specialist laboratory analysis - Your sample undergoes dedicated infectious-disease serology.
Clinic and home collection options - Professional blood collection can be arranged.
Secure reporting - Receive your authorised result securely.
Clear pricing - The Cat Scratch Fever Bartonella IgG+IgM test costs £270.
Private Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella IgG+IgM) Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Bartonella IgG and IgM blood testing in London for people requiring investigation of possible cat-scratch disease.
The test costs £270 and contains one combined antibody profile.
Results are expected approximately 5 days after laboratory receipt.
The result should be interpreted alongside cat exposure, symptom timing and clinical findings rather than being used as a standalone measure of active infection.