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Autoimmune

Immunoglobulin G and pregnancy: IgG and the baby's immune defence

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is an antibody that, according to the NVKC, B cells, a kind of white blood cell, make to fight infections. According to the NVKC, IgG can reach the unborn child through the placenta of the pregnant woman, and it provides the baby's immune defence in the first six months.

According to the NVKC, low values of all immunoglobulin classes make a person very vulnerable to infections, and according to the NVKC a high total protein concentration can come from one of the immunoglobulins being made in excess. Only a blood test shows whether IgG is too high or too low.

Diagnostiek voor U gives 6.5 to 16 g/L for IgG above age 15.

Doctor's Assessment Included

According to the NVKC, immunoglobulin G (IgG) is an antibody that B cells make to clear away foreign substances and fight infections. For adults the NVKC uses a reference value for IgG of 7.0 to 16.0 g/l.

  • Star-SHL gives 7 to 16 g/l for IgG in adults, Unilabs 7.00 to 16.00 g/l above age 16 and Diagnostiek voor U 6.5 to 16 g/L above age 15.
  • According to the NVKC, a slight rise of the immunoglobulins, IgG among them, is common during or shortly after an infection.
  • According to the NVKC, when all classes of immunoglobulins, IgG among them, are low, a person is very vulnerable to infections.

Reference Ranges

Female
g/l
Low 7 Normal 16 High

Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. When you order a test, a BIG-registered doctor assesses your personal results in context. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.

Check your own value

Immunoglobulin IgG: what Dutch laboratories use

These 3 laboratories publish the same value: 16 g/l.

Reference ranges by group, in g/l
Star-shl · Everyone · 19 years and older 7–16 g/l
7 16
Unilabs · Everyone · 16 years and older 7–16 g/l
7 16
Diagnostiek voor U · Everyone · 16 years and older 6.5–16.0 g/L
6.5 16
0 17.6 g/l

Source: Star-shl

Source: Unilabs

Source: Diagnostiek voor U

Each value as the laboratory itself publishes it, retrieved in 2026.

Immunoglobulin IgG: what this test measures

An IgG test measures how much immunoglobulin G is in the blood, expressed in g/l, and Star-SHL measures IgG together with IgA and IgM in serum with a turbidimetric measurement. According to MedlinePlus, normal values for IgG may vary slightly between laboratories.

Immunoglobulin IgG: why this value matters

An IgG measurement matters because, according to the NVKC, a group of cells that has run out of control can make far too much of one kind of immunoglobulin. According to the NVKC, this comes at the expense of other immunoglobulins, so that the immune system no longer works well against infections.

Immunoglobulin IgG: how the blood test works

Referral
No GP referral needed. After the order we arrange the referral through ZorgDomein, within one business day; orders after 17:00 or at the weekend start on the next business day. ZorgDomein emails a barcode, and that barcode is what the draw site needs.
The draw
A blood draw from a vein in the arm, at a partner laboratory's draw site. No home kit, no finger prick.
Where
650+ draw sites run by independent laboratories across the Netherlands. Draw sites

Immunoglobulin IgG: when is testing worthwhile?

According to the NVKC, an IgG test can be requested when a high total protein was found earlier. According to the NVKC, the doctor can also have IgA, IgG and IgM measured for infections that occur often or come back.

Immunoglobulin IgG: symptoms of a high or low value

Low Levels

According to MedlinePlus, a low IgG may be due to pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure during pregnancy, or agammaglobulinemia, a very rare disorder with very low immunoglobulins. According to the NVKC, a low IgG can also go with protein loss in the urine from kidney disease, which according to the NVKC can occur in advanced diabetes, autoimmune diseases or chronic inflammation of the kidney.

High Levels

Rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease and hyperimmunization, a higher than normal number of specific antibodies, are possible causes of a raised IgG according to MedlinePlus. A strong rise of the immunoglobulins can occur, according to the NVKC, in a serious infection or when a runaway group of cells makes too much of one or more immunoglobulins.

Immunoglobulin IgG: causes of a low or high value

What lowers the value

  • Disturbed production in the bone marrow

    When all classes of immunoglobulins, IgG among them, are low, the cause can lie in a disturbed production of white blood cells in the bone marrow.

  • Hereditary disorders

    A low amount of immunoglobulins, IgG among them, can result from hereditary disorders, which often becomes clear in childhood.

  • Protein loss in the urine from kidney disease

    A low amount of immunoglobulins, IgG among them, can come from protein loss in the urine in kidney disease, and the kidneys then also lose many other proteins. Such protein loss can occur in advanced stages of diabetes, autoimmune diseases or chronic inflammation of the kidney.

  • Agammaglobulinemia

    A low IgG may be due to agammaglobulinemia, a very rare disorder with very low immunoglobulins.

    Rarely

  • Treatment with certain chemotherapy

    MedlinePlus names treatment with certain chemotherapy medicines as one of the possible causes of a low IgG in the blood.

What raises the value

  • Infection

    A slight rise of the immunoglobulins, IgG among them, is common during or shortly after an infection, and a strong rise can occur in a serious infection.

  • A group of cells running out of control

    Sometimes a group of cells runs out of control and makes far too much of one kind of immunoglobulin, for example IgG, at the expense of other immunoglobulins.

  • Chronic infection or inflammation

    MedlinePlus names chronic infection or inflammation as one of the possible causes of a raised IgG in the blood.

  • Liver disease

    MedlinePlus names liver disease as one of the possible causes of a raised IgG in the blood.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

    MedlinePlus names rheumatoid arthritis as one of the possible causes of a raised IgG in the blood.

Immunoglobulin IgG: lifestyle and this value

Discuss an abnormal IgG result with your GP. According to the NVKC, with a strong rise further testing establishes which type of immunoglobulin is present in excess.

Immunoglobulin IgG: frequently asked questions

Can kidney disease lower IgG?

Yes, according to the NVKC kidney disease can lower IgG, because immunoglobulins such as IgG are lost with the protein in the urine. According to the NVKC, the kidneys then also lose many other proteins.

Immunoglobulin IgG: sources

  1. Star-shl, Labbepalingen (referentiewaarden per bepaling), star-shl.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) star-shl.nl
  2. Unilabs, Bepalingenklapper (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenklapper.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenklapper.nl
  3. Diagnostiek voor U, eLabgids (Referentiewaarden DvU), diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu
  4. NVKC, Alles over testen: Immunoglobuline IgA IgG IgM, allesovertesten.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-16 (retrieved 2026) allesovertesten.nl
  5. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Quantitative nephelometry test, medlineplus.gov, review date 2026-05-01, geraadpleegd 2026-10-16 (retrieved 2026) medlineplus.gov

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Immunoglobulin IgG

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