Description of the situation
The patient was identified after detection at the regional laboratory of IgM in his serum by ELISA in samples taken on 23 July. A second sample taken on 19 August showed an IgG seroconversion at the same laboratory.
Samples were then sent for further testing to the Institute of Health Carlos III, the national reference laboratory (NRL). ELISA results at the NRL were inconclusive both for IgM and IgG on the sample taken on 23 July. These results were not confirmed neither by indirect immunofluorescence nor neutralization tests. Samples taken on 19 August were negative.
Further tests carried out at the NRL showed a positive ELISA result for IgM against Parvovirus B19 in the sample taken on 23 July that turned negative in the sample taken on 19 August, suggesting a possible recent past parvovirus infection, which could explain the symptoms experienced by the patient.