title: Histoplasmosis as a cause for a positive Fungitell (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan test.
abstract: We evaluated the Fungitell beta-glucan (BG) test with specimens from patients with presumed histoplasmosis. The sensitivity of the test was 87% in histoplasmosis cases and had a specificity of 68% with controls. Histoplasmosis should be considered as a possible cause for a positive BG test, but such results may be found with many other conditions that are clinically similar to this fungal disease. Therefore, there is a need to conduct confirmatory tests for histoplasmosis in the appropriate clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: MiraVista Diagnostics, 4444 Decatur Boulevard, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46241, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: L Joseph
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wheat
authors.forename: Deanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Dais
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: Chadi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hage
mesh_terms: D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D016469:Fungemia / Q000097:blood; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C010770:polysaccharide-K