title: False-positive cryptococcal antigen test and cervical prevertebral abscess.
abstract: A false-positive latex agglutination test for cryptococcal antigen occurred in a patient with a cervical prevertebral abscess and vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Using a commercial latex agglutination test kit, a cryptococcal antigen titer of 1:32 was found in the CSF, but no cryptococcal antigen was found when the CSF was retested at a reference laboratory. The false-positive test resulted in unnecessary therapy with amphotericin B and delay in appropriate diagnostic studies and therapy.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal