title: Elimination of false-positive Histoplasma antigenemia caused by human anti-rabbit antibodies in the second-generation Histoplasma antigen assay.
abstract: False-positive Histoplasma antigenemia was reported in solid organ allograft recipients who had received rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (RATG, RATG) caused by human anti-rabbit antibodies (HARA). A second-generation Histoplasma antigen detection assay was developed to overcome false positivity caused by HARA. With the second-generation assay, false-positive results were eliminated in 18 of 19 cases without reduction in the sensitivity in patients with histoplasmosis. In fact, sensitivity for detection of antigenuria in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and disseminated histoplasmosis was higher in the second-generation assay. Physicians should be aware of the potential for false-positive results in sandwich immunoassays in specimens from patients who have received RATG.
authors.affiliation: MiraVista Diagnostics, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, USA. jwheat@miravistalabs.com
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wheat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durkin
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Book
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pescovitz
mesh_terms: D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum