Other names: Total IgM (mg/dL), ImmunogM, IgM, Total, Quant
Optimal Result:
26 - 217 mg/dL,
or
0.26 - 2.17 g/L.
Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is one of the five major classes of antibodies produced by your immune system to fight infections. IgM is the first antibody your body makes in response to an infection, playing a crucial role in the early stages of immune defense. It is mainly found in your blood and lymphatic fluid and is especially effective at neutralizing bacteria and viruses before other antibodies are produced.
Did you know? IgM is the largest antibody (a pentamer) and does not cross the placenta, so its presence in newborns reflects their own immune response, not the mother’s.
The “Qn” in Immunoglobulin M, Qn, Serum refers to a quantitative measurement—meaning the test measures the actual amount of IgM present in a serum (blood) sample.
Doctors may order a quantitative serum IgM test to:
Evaluate immune system health, especially in people with frequent or unusual infections.
Monitor immune deficiencies such as Selective IgM Deficiency or Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID).
Assess autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, including lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Differentiate between recent and past infections, especially when paired with IgG testing.
Evaluate plasma cell disorders, such as Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia or multiple myeloma.
High IgM levels may suggest:
Acute or recent infections (e.g., viral hepatitis, Epstein-Barr virus, rubella)
Chronic infections (e.g., Lyme disease, certain parasitic infections)
Autoimmune conditions (e.g., lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome)
Liver disease (e.g., primary biliary cholangitis)
Certain cancers involving B cells or plasma cells, such as:
Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma)
IgM-producing multiple myeloma
Note: An elevated IgM level alone does not confirm a diagnosis. It must be interpreted alongside your symptoms and other laboratory findings.
Low IgM levels may indicate:
Primary or secondary immunodeficiency, such as:
Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
Selective IgM Deficiency
X-linked agammaglobulinemia (Bruton’s disease)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or other bone marrow suppression disorders
Nephrotic syndrome (where proteins, including antibodies, are lost in the urine)
Immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, long-term corticosteroid use)
Low IgM can make individuals more prone to recurrent infections, particularly of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract.
The test is a simple blood draw. A healthcare provider collects a small blood sample, usually from a vein in your arm. The serum is then analyzed to measure the concentration of Immunoglobulin M (typically reported in mg/dL or g/L).
Reference ranges may vary slightly by laboratory, but typical adult values are:
Adults: 40–230 mg/dL (0.4–2.3 g/L)
Always consult your test provider or physician for interpretation based on their lab-specific ranges and your clinical context.
If your IgM is high: Your doctor may investigate possible infections, autoimmune conditions, or plasma cell disorders.
If your IgM is low: Your doctor may evaluate you for immunodeficiency, especially if you experience frequent infections.
Depending on your health status, further testing may include IgG and IgA levels, vaccine response testing, electrophoresis, or genetic evaluation for suspected immune disorders.
IgM is the “first responder” antibody in your immune system, especially effective during the early stages of infection.
High IgM may suggest infection, inflammation, autoimmune disease, or certain cancers.
Low IgM can indicate immune system deficiencies or conditions causing protein loss.
The IgM test is useful for immune evaluation, infection staging, and as diagnostic support in autoimmune or blood-related conditions.
References:
Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the first antibody your immune system produces when you encounter a new infection. Elevated IgM levels in the blood usually indicate that your immune system is actively responding to a trigger—most often an infection, inflammation, or immune system disorder. It’s important to remember that IgM is a “first responder” antibody, and its elevation is a signal of immune activity, not a disease itself.
Elevated IgM can occur due to a variety of conditions, including:
Acute or Recent Infections:
Viral infections (e.g., Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis A)
Bacterial infections
Parasitic infections
IgM typically rises early in the course of infection and may return to normal as the infection resolves.
Chronic Infections or Persistent Immune Stimulation:
Chronic infections (e.g., Lyme disease) can keep IgM levels elevated over time.
Autoimmune or Inflammatory Diseases:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Rheumatoid arthritis
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
These conditions can cause ongoing immune activation and increased IgM production.
Liver Disease:
Especially primary biliary cholangitis, where chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction are present.
Monoclonal Gammopathies and Lymphoproliferative Disorders:
Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (a rare blood cancer with excessive IgM production)
IgM-type multiple myeloma (a plasma cell cancer)
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS; a benign condition that may precede more serious blood cancers)
The significance of high IgM depends on the underlying cause. Many people with mildly elevated IgM—especially after a recent infection—have no symptoms, and levels often normalize on their own. When symptoms are present, they may include:
Fever, fatigue, or night sweats (suggesting infection or blood cancer)
Joint pain, rashes, or dry eyes/mouth (in autoimmune conditions)
Frequent infections
Enlarged lymph nodes or spleen (in lymphoproliferative disorders)
Rarely, neurologic symptoms from very high IgM causing blood thickening (hyperviscosity)
An isolated high IgM result is not a diagnosis by itself. Next steps depend on:
Whether other antibody levels (IgA, IgG) are also abnormal
Whether you have any symptoms or signs of infection, autoimmunity, or malignancy
Trends over time—temporary increases are common after infections, while persistent elevation may need further evaluation
If your doctor suspects a serious condition, they may order additional tests such as:
Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP)
Immunofixation
Bone marrow biopsy
Imaging studies (if lymph node or organ involvement is suspected)
Elevated IgM is a marker of immune system activation, most often due to infection, inflammation, or blood-related disorders.
Mild, temporary increases in IgM are common and often resolve without treatment—especially after recent infections.
Persistent or significantly high IgM levels, particularly with symptoms, warrant further investigation.
Diagnosis depends on your overall health, other lab results, and sometimes advanced testing.
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
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A decreased level of Immunoglobulin M (IgM) typically indicates a problem with the immune system’s ability to produce antibodies—an essential part of your body’s defense against infections. IgM is the first type of antibody made in response to pathogens, so low levels may impair your ability to fight off certain infections, especially early in the immune response.
Low IgM can result from both primary (inborn) and secondary (acquired) causes:
Primary immunodeficiency disorders, such as:
Selective IgM Deficiency
Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
X-linked Agammaglobulinemia (XLA)
Secondary causes, including:
Immunosuppressive medications (e.g., corticosteroids, chemotherapy, rituximab)
Lymphoproliferative diseases (e.g., chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
Protein-losing kidney disorders like nephrotic syndrome
Age-related immune decline
Many people with low IgM experience recurrent infections, especially affecting the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. There may also be an increased risk of:
Autoimmune conditions
Allergies
Certain cancers (though less common)
However, not all individuals with low IgM have symptoms. In some cases, decreased IgM is discovered incidentally and may not pose any health risk, particularly when levels are only mildly reduced.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause and the severity of symptoms:
No treatment may be needed if IgM levels are only slightly low and the individual has no symptoms or only occasional mild infections. In such cases, regular monitoring is often sufficient.
If infections are frequent or severe, management may include:
Prompt treatment of infections with antibiotics
Preventive (prophylactic) antibiotics in some cases
Immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IVIG): While not routinely used for isolated IgM deficiency, it may be considered if other antibody levels are also low or infections are serious and recurrent.
Vaccination with inactivated (non-live) vaccines, which are generally safe and may help protect against preventable diseases (though vaccine responses can vary).
Addressing underlying causes, such as adjusting medications, treating kidney disease, or managing a lymphoproliferative condition.
Mildly low IgM levels often do not require further workup unless accompanied by:
Recurrent or unusual infections
Signs of broader immune dysfunction
Other abnormal antibody levels
In such cases, referral to an immunologist may be recommended for a more comprehensive immune system evaluation.
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Whether you're working with a doctor, nutritionist, caregiver, or wellness coach, you can securely share your complete lab history by sending an invite link to anyone you trust. You have full control over who sees your information and for how long, ensuring your privacy and peace of mind at every step.
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Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
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If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you're on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
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In short:
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our Data Entry Service is for when you don't want to manually type in your lab results yourself. You simply upload your report (PDF, image, or screenshot), and our trained team enters the information into your Healthmatters account for you — accurately and neatly organized, ready to view in graphs, tables, and timelines.
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Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
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To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
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