Interference by hydroxyethyl starch used for vascular filling in latex agglutination test for cryptococcal antigen

J Clin Microbiol. 1995 Jul;33(7):1917-9. doi: 10.1128/jcm.33.7.1917-1919.1995.

Abstract

The glucuronoxylomannan component of the Cryptococcus neoformans capsular polysaccharide confers serotype specificity, and its detection in cerebrospinal fluid or serum by the latex agglutination test is used for diagnosis. Low-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starches can be used as an alternative to albumin for vascular filling. This study reports the occurrence of a false-positive result with the Pastorex Cryptococcus test (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur, Marnes la Coquette, France) for a patient receiving hydroxyethyl starch characterized by a substitution ratio of 0.6 (Elohes, Biosedra, Sèvres, France).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Fungal / analysis*
  • Antigens, Fungal / chemistry
  • Carbohydrate Sequence
  • Cryptococcosis / diagnosis*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / immunology*
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / chemistry
  • Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / therapeutic use
  • Latex Fixation Tests / methods*
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives
  • Polysaccharides
  • glucuronoxylomannan