Interlaboratory discrepancy of antigenuria results in 2 patients with AIDS and histoplasmosis

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Jan;63(1):111-4. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2008.09.008. Epub 2008 Nov 21.

Abstract

Histoplasma polysaccharide antigen testing is used routinely to diagnose histoplasmosis. At least 3 antigen tests are commercially available. Controversy exists about the relative accuracy of these tests. We report 2 patients with AIDS and culture-confirmed Histoplasma capsulatum meningitis from whom discrepant Histoplasma polysaccharide antigen results were obtained from different laboratories and discuss the potential clinical implications of these results.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antigens, Fungal / urine*
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Histoplasma / isolation & purification
  • Histoplasmosis / complications
  • Histoplasmosis / diagnosis*
  • Histoplasmosis / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques / methods
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques / standards
  • Laboratories / standards
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Fungal / complications
  • Meningitis, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Meningitis, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Polysaccharides / urine
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Polysaccharides
  • liposomal amphotericin B
  • Amphotericin B