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Antibody Detection

HISTOPLASMA ANTIBODY IgG IgM EIA

  • Test Code

    326

  • CPT Code

    86698 x2

  • Clinical Significance

    IgM and IgG antibodies to Histoplasma antigen usually appear during the first month of infection. The IgM antibody response in acute pulmonary histoplasmosis is detectable during the acute phase (roughly 3 weeks) and is shown to decline during the convalescent stage (at about 6 weeks); whereas, IgG levels remained relatively constant at 6 weeks. Follow-up testing maybe considered 2-4 weeks after initial testing to determine if antibody levels are increasing, especially in patients with low positive or intermediate results. Increase in IgG antibody or decrease in IgM concentration would suggest recent infection. Antibodies may persist for several years in patients with chronic pulmonary complications or progressive extrapulmonary (disseminated) histoplasmosis. Antibodies may be falsely-negative in some progressive or chronic cases, especially in immunocompromised patients. Antibodies may also be detected in healthy subjects who are asymptomatic as a result of sub-clinical infection within the last 18-36 months. This test offers an improvement in sensitivity over the current methods of detecting antibodies by immuno diffusion and complement fixation.

  • Methodology

    Semi-Quantitative Indirect Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

  • Limitations
    • 12% cross reactivity with Blastomycosis
    • 24% cross reactivity with Coccidioidomycosis
  • Specimen Collection
    • Serum/Plasma: Serum/Plasma separated from the clot in a leak-proof container.
    • CSF: Sterile leak-proof container.
  • Minimum Specimen Requirements
    • Serum: 0.25 mL
    • Plasma*/CSF*: 0.25 mL (*Reported with rare specimen comment applied.)
  • Specimen Stability
    • Room Temperature: 28 days
    • Refrigerated: 60 days
    • Frozen: indefinite
  • Specimen Rejection
    • Any specimen types other than serum, plasma, or CSF
    • For specimen submissions that do not meet this criteria, please call Customer Service
  • Transport Temperature

    Ambient/Refrigerated/Frozen

  • Shipping

    Ship on dry ice to arrive Monday‐Friday using a next day delivery service. Frozen ice packs may be substituted if sample is shipped the day of collection.

  • Turnaround Time

    Same day**

    **Test Set up: Samples for Antigen testing received by 10:30AM will have same day test set up. Positive samples may require confirmation, which could extend turnaround time. Serum & CSF specimens are pre-treated to improve sensitivity, which can add one day to turnaround time.

  • Reference Range

    Negative

  • Interpretative Information
    • Negative: <10.0 EU
    • Intermediate: 10.0 EU-19.9 EU
    • Positive: 20.0 EU

* New positives may require confirmation.

** Turnaround times are provided as ranges, and may vary depending on daily testing volumes and specimen type.

*** Test set up: Samples received by 10:30AM will have same-day test set up. Positive samples may require confirmation which may extend turnaround time. Serum & CSF specimens are pretreated to improve sensitivity which can add one day to turnaround time.

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