ToRCH is an acronym for a group of infectious diseases that, while infecting the pregnant women, may cause birth defects in their newborns.1 ToRCH stands for 4 different infections that can adversely affect the pregnant women and the fetus, newborn children including birth defects and often leading to abortion. The four pathogens are Toxo plasma gondii (parasitic protozoan), Rubella virus, CMV – Cytomegalovirus (Virus), HSV-2 – Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (Virus). The infections usually cause few, if any, symptoms in the pregnant woman, but pose greater risks of serious birth defects for neonates. Infections caused by ToRCH – Toxo plasma, Rubella Virus, Cytomegalo Virus (CMV) and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) – is the major cause of BOH (Bad Obstetric History).2 Risks are severe, if the mother gets the infection in the first trimester as the baby's organs start to form in this stage. General symptoms include premature birth, growth retardation, neurological abnormalities, and damage of the eye, liver, heart and ear as well as bone lesions. Microcephaly, hydrocephaly, seizures and psychomotor retardation accompany these malformations. The ToRCH IgG/IgM Combo Rapid Test Cassette (Serum/Plasma) is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of IgM antibodies to Toxo, Rub, CMV, and HSV-2 in serum or plasma specimens
