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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1968 December; 16(12): 1907-1912
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Value and Interpretation of Serological Tests for the Diagnosis of Cryptococcosis

Leo Kaufman and Sharon Blumer

National Communicable Disease Center, Health Services and Mental Health Administration, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Atlanta, Georgia 30333

ABSTRACT

Maximal serological diagnosis of cryptococcosis may be accomplished through the concurrent use of three tests: the latex agglutination (LA) test for cryptococcal antigen, and the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and tube agglutination (TA) tests for Cryptococcus neoformans antibodies. These tests were applied to 141 serum and cerebral spinal fluid specimens from 66 culturally proven cases of cryptococcosis and to 42 sera from normal subjects and from patients with other systemic mycotic diseases. The LA test was sensitive and completely specific; of the sera from proven cases, 55% were positive. With the TA test, 37% of the specimens were positive and the test was highly specific. With the IFA test, 38% of the specimens were positive and the test appears to be the least specific of the three. Cross-reactions were most evident with blastomycosis and histoplasmosis case sera. When the three tests were used concurrently, 87% of the cryptococcosis case specimens were positive and permitted a presumptive diagnosis of C. neoformans infections in 61 (92%) of the 66 patients whose specimens were examined.

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1968 December; 16(12): 1907-1912
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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Copyright © 1968 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.