Test Details
Methodology
Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
Result Turnaround Time
1 - 4 days
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Use
Patients diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease and/or Job's syndrome may yield a reduced detection of galactomannan.1 Reduced assay sensitivity may occur in patients receiving concomitant antifungal therapy.2 Penicillium species, Alternaria species, Paecilomyces species, Geotrichum species, and Histoplasma species have demonstrated reactivity with the monoclonal antibodies used in the assay and may, therefore, yield a positive test result. Positive results in patients with no clinical signs of disease have been reported, especially in young children.3 Most of these are considered to be false positives. Young children may have a positive assay result due to the presence of galactofuranaase contained in various foods (cereals) and milk. Patients receiving piperacillin/tazobactam or semisynthetic β-lactamase therapy may have false-positive results.4,5 False-positive results may also occur with use of Plasma-Lyte™ for either intravenous hydration or BAL specimen collection.6
Special Instructions
Avoid opening the specimen after collection. Do not aliquot (Package insert (PI) specifies transport in sealed tubes).
Limitations
A negative test does not exclude the possibility of invasive aspergillosis. Patients at risk for invasive aspergillosis should be tested twice weekly. Results close to the cutoff (ie, index of 0.5) should be interpreted with caution and supported by clinical, radiological, or laboratory culture results. BAL samples with an index value between 0.5−1.0 have a lower predictive value than those with a value >1.0. No data are available for CSF. Results of this test are for investigational purposes only. The performance characteristics of this assay have been determined by LabCorp. The result should not be used as a diagnostic procedure without confirmation of the diagnosis by another medically established diagnostic product or procedure.
Footnotes
References
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Volume
2 mL
Minimum Volume
0.35 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)
Container
Sterile screw-cap, leak proof container
Caution against submitting pour-off specimens or specimens sent in non-sterile containers as this can lead to false positive results.
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen using aseptic technique. Avoid opening the specimen after collection. Do not aliquot (Package insert (PI) specifies transport in sealed tubes).
Storage Instructions
Storage: Refrigerate unopened at 2°C to 8°C for five days. After opening, store at 2°C to 8°C for 48 hours. Freeze at: -70°C after five days.
Stability: Not stable at room temperature. Stable refrigerated when unopened for five days. Stable opened for 48 hours.
Patient Preparation
Usual aseptic technique
Causes for Rejection
Unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and test request form; insufficient volume of CSF (for BAL or serum see test 183805; BAL or serum received for test 183858 will default to the correct test number without informing the client); specimen sent in non-sterile containers (frozen specimens stored in unknown conditions may give false positive results due to contamination with fungus and/or bacteria)
LOINC® Map
Order Code | Order Code Name | Order Loinc | Result Code | Result Code Name | UofM | Result LOINC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
183858 | Aspergillus Ag, CSF | 183859 | Aspergillus Ag, CSF | Index | 53865-2 | |
183858 | Aspergillus Ag, CSF | 511958 | 80563-0 | |||
Order Code | 183858 | |||||
Order Code Name | Aspergillus Ag, CSF | |||||
Order Loinc | ||||||
Result Code | 183859 | |||||
Result Code Name | Aspergillus Ag, CSF | |||||
UofM | Index | |||||
Result LOINC | 53865-2 | |||||
Order Code | 183858 | |||||
Order Code Name | Aspergillus Ag, CSF | |||||
Order Loinc | ||||||
Result Code | 511958 | |||||
Result Code Name | ||||||
UofM | ||||||
Result LOINC | 80563-0 |