Scrub Typhus Ab/Ag Test in Kathmandu

About this test

Scrub typhus is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, a bacterium passed to humans through the bite of an infected chigger (larval mite). This test looks for the body's immune response to that organism — IgM antibodies, which appear within the first week and signal current or recent infection, and IgG antibodies, which reflect later or past exposure. Some kits also detect the bacterial antigen directly. A doctor typically orders it when someone has an unexplained fever lasting several days, often with severe headache, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes, and especially when a painless black scab with a dark centre — the characteristic eschar — is found at the bite site, frequently hidden in skin folds such as the groin, armpit, or behind the knee. Scrub typhus is a major and frequently overlooked cause of acute febrile illness across Nepal, particularly during and after the monsoon (roughly July to October) and among people who farm, gather firewood, or live near scrubland and the Terai. Because its early symptoms mimic typhoid, dengue, and leptospirosis, it is rarely diagnosed on clinical grounds alone and antibody testing is what confirms it. Results are interpreted alongside the timing of fever, the presence of an eschar, and a complete blood count, which may show a low platelet count or deranged liver enzymes. A negative result drawn very early can still turn positive if repeated a few days later. Importantly, scrub typhus responds well to doxycycline, so an early positive result allows prompt, life-saving treatment before complications such as pneumonia, meningoencephalitis, or organ failure develop.

Sample type

Blood (serum)

Preparation

No fasting required. Please tell us which day your fever began and whether you have recently travelled to or worked in rural, forested, or farming areas, as this guides how the result is read.

Turnaround time

Reports for Scrub Typhus Ab/Ag are typically ready within: Next Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other immunology tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Scrub Typhus Ab/Ag or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.