Comparison of four assays for the detection of cryptococcal antigen.
We compared the performance of four assays for the detection of cryptococcal antigen in serum samples (n = 634) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (n = 51). Compared to latex agglutination, the sensitivity and specificity of the Premier enzyme immunoassay (EIA), Alpha CrAg EIA, and CrAg lateral flow assay (LFA) were 55.6 and 100%, 100 and 99.7%, and 100 and 99.8%, respectively, from serum samples. There was 100% agreement among the four tests for CSF samples, with 18 samples testing positive by each of the assays.
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. binnicker.matthew@mayo.edu
M J
MJ
Binnicker
D J
DJ
Jespersen
J E
JE
Bestrom
L O
LO
Rollins
D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000946:Antigens, Fungal