Protein microarray – a new tool for detection of TORCH infections

We have developed and tested a method for printing protein microarrays on glass slides and using these microarrays in a comparative fluorescence assay to detect TORCH infections. We generated protein microarrays by printing antibodies to simultaneously determine infections of TORCH (toxoplasmosis-rubella-cytomegalovirus-herpes) by detecting antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus type 2 in human sera. TORCH infections, acquired during pregnancy, may result in congenital infection and serious sequelae in the neonatal period or years after birth. A prospective study was designed to detect IgM antibodies in the serum against Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus type 2 in human sera. The results suggest that protein microarrays can provide a practical assay format to diagnose infection diseases in the same time in a rapid, low-cost and low-sample-volume format.