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Cryptococcus Antigen | Back to Test Directory | ||||
Test Description |
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Quantitative detection of antigens of Cryptococcus neoformans in patient serum or Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) | |||||
Performed | Avg. Turnaround Time | Method | |||
Coralville, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F |
1 - 3 business days | Latex Agglutination | |||
Fee | CPT Code(s) | ||||
$22.79 | 82327 | ||||
Specimen Requirements | |||||
Specimen Type: | Minimum 1 mL Serum or 0.5 mL Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) | ||||
Collection Instructions: |
Red Top Tube: centrifuge and transfer serum to a secondary tube |
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Temperature and Stability: | Refrigerated (2-8°C); stable for 2 weeks. | ||||
Unacceptable Conditions: | Plasma. Contaminated, hemolyzed, or severely lipemic specimens. | ||||
Expected Results: | Negative, Positive, Titer of Cryptococcus antigen present | ||||
Shipping Instructions | |||||
Wrap specimen container in absorbent material and place inside a biohazard bag. Transport specimen with cold pack. Ship to the Coralville location. | |||||
Comments | |||||
A negative result does not exclude cryptococcal infection. False negative reactions may be caused by low titers, early infection, presence of immune complexes, and poorly encapsulated strains with low production of polysaccharide. If clinical symptoms are suggestive of Cryptococcosis, subsequent specimens and culture are strongly recommended. A positive reaction in serum or CSF of an untreated patient at titers of 1:4 or less is highly suggestive of Cryptococcal infection. Titers of 1:8 or higher usually indicate active Cryptococcosis. The antigen titer is usually proportional to the extent of infection, with increasing titers reflecting progressive infection and declining titers indicating response to therapy. Low titers may persist for an indefinite period in the presence of nonviable fungus and clinical improvement. | |||||
Alternate Names | |||||
Cryptococal antigen, Cryptococcus screen |
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