Neonatal infection is most reliably indicated by the presence of which immunoglobulin that does not cross the placenta?

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Multiple Choice

Neonatal infection is most reliably indicated by the presence of which immunoglobulin that does not cross the placenta?

Explanation:
Neonatal infection is best signaled by an immunoglobulin that the baby itself makes, not one inherited from the mother. IgG crosses the placenta and can be found in the newborn from maternal sources, which means its presence doesn’t prove infection in the infant. In contrast, IgM is a large molecule that cannot cross the placental barrier, so detecting IgM in a newborn indicates the infant has produced it in response to an infection. IgA and IgE don’t serve as reliable indicators of neonatal infection in this context.

Neonatal infection is best signaled by an immunoglobulin that the baby itself makes, not one inherited from the mother. IgG crosses the placenta and can be found in the newborn from maternal sources, which means its presence doesn’t prove infection in the infant. In contrast, IgM is a large molecule that cannot cross the placental barrier, so detecting IgM in a newborn indicates the infant has produced it in response to an infection. IgA and IgE don’t serve as reliable indicators of neonatal infection in this context.

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