Leishmania antibody (IgG) test
Quick answer: This blood test measures antibodies against Leishmania, a parasite spread by sandfly bites that can cause kala-azar. Doctors order it when you have a long fever, weight loss and an enlarged spleen and kala-azar is suspected.
- SampleBlood
- TakesAbout 5 minutes
- Before the testNo special preparation is usually needed.
How the test is done
- 1A nurse asks about travel or living in affected areas
- 2A vein near your elbow is cleaned
- 3A needle collects a tube of blood
- 4The lab tests for Leishmania IgG, often by an rK39-based test
What your results can mean
Reading your report
The report usually says positive, negative or borderline; a positive result often needs a confirmatory test, so discuss it with your doctor.
If the result is outside the usual range
A positive result in someone with long fever, weight loss and a large spleen can point to kala-azar. Antibodies can stay after treatment or past infection, so results are read with symptoms.
Who usually has this test
People with fever for more than two weeks, weight loss and an enlarged spleen, especially from or after visiting affected states.
Risks and aftercare
Most people have only mild soreness where the blood was taken.
Names and options
Also called: kala-azar test, leishmaniasis test, rK39
Listed by the hospital as
- LEISHMANIA ANTIBODY IGG
Questions about this test
Where in India is kala-azar found?
It has mainly been found in parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, and cases have fallen a lot under the elimination programme.
Can this test show if treatment worked?
No. Antibodies can stay positive for years after cure, so doctors use symptoms and other tests to judge response.
Is kala-azar the same as skin leishmaniasis?
No. Kala-azar affects internal organs such as the spleen and liver. Skin leishmaniasis causes sores, and antibody tests are less useful for it.
Related tests
Tamara Hospital & IVF Centre, Rajajinagar
34/3, 10th Cross Road, opp. Vardhaka Sardar Patel School, 1st N Block, 2nd Stage, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560010
The hospital is open 24 hours. Call before you come to check the timing for your scan or sample collection.
Get directions ↗IVF Pulse fertility care at Tamara Hospital →
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This page explains each test in general terms so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice: your doctor decides which tests you need and what your results mean. Reference ranges differ between laboratories. Updated 4 November 2026.