Blastomyces Quantitative Antigen, CSF/BAL/Other Body Fluids (316)

Marshfield Lab Public WebSite

Marshfield Clinic Public WebSite

Test Code: BLCAGSO

Overview
Ordering
Specimen
Performing
Clinical/Interpretive
Contacts
Coding

Synonyms/Keywords

Blastomyces Quant Ag, CSF and BF (316)

FL BLCAGSO

Useful For

Aid in the diagnosis for blastomycosis

Monitor the response to therapy and determine when treatment can be modified or stopped

Monitor Blastomyces antigen levels to help determine relapse of disease

Specimen Requirements

Fasting Required	Specimen Type	Preferred Container/Tube	Specimen Minimum Volume (allows for 1 repeat)
No	CSF	Sterile leak-proof container	0.8 mL
No	Bronchial Lavage Fluid (BAL)	Sterile leak-proof container	0.8 mL
No	Body Fluids	Sterile leak-proof container	0.8 mL

Collection Processing Instructions

Ship to arrive Monday through Saturday using a next day delivery service.

Samples may be shipped on dry ice, frozen ice packs or ambient.

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type	Temperature	Time
CSF or BAL	Room Temperature	14 days
	Refrigerate (preferred)	14 days
	Frozen	2 months

Rejection Criteria

Specimens received cold or room temperature >14 days old

Non-pipettable specimens, tissue, biopsy, sputum, bronchial brush, tracheal aspirate, FNA, bone marrow, aspirate or stool

Samples in transport media, fixative or isolator tubes

Interference

It is possible that specimens positive for Candida tropicalis, Coccidioides immitis, Coccidioides posadasii, Histoplasma capsulatum, Histoplasma duboisii, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Talaromyces marneffei and Aspergillus nidulans may cross-react with the Blastomyces Antigen EIA and test positive.

A variety of interfering substances, as follows, were investigated for each specimen type and none affected the Blastomyces Antigen EIA sensitivity or specificity.

Urine: glucose, protein, microalbumin, creatine, uric acid, BUN, bilirubin, nitrite, ketones, WBCs, blood/ hemoglobin, antihistamine, ascorbic acid, cough syrup, boric acid, ethyl paraben
CSF: protein, blood BAL: blood

Performing Laboratory Information

Performing Location	Day(s) Test Performed	Analytical Time	Methodology/Instrumentation
Miravista Diagnostics	Monday through Saturday	1 day	Quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA)

Reference Lab

Miravista Diagnostics

Test Information

The MVista® Blastomyces Antigen Quantitative EIA can detect and quantify the amount of Blastomyces antigen in patient samples.

During validation testing, the sensitivity was found to be 95.00% and specificity 100% with an assay cutoff of 0.31 ng/mL.

Positive samples may require confirmation which could extend TAT.

Reference Range Information

Reference Interval: None Detected Reportable Range: 0.31 ng/mL – 20.00 ng/mL Results above 20.00 ng/mL are reported as 'Positive, Above the Limit of Quantification' When tested in cultures of 10⁵ – 10⁶ organisms/mL, cross-reactions occurred with Histoplasma spp., Coccidioides spp., Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Talaromyces marneffei, Aspergillus nidulans, and Candida tropicalis.

Interpretation

None Detected: <0.31 ng/mL
Positive: ≥0.31 ng/mL – 20.00 ng/mL
Positive Above the Limit of Quantifications
Results greater than 20.00 ng/mL fall outside the linear range of the assay. These results are positive, but not accurately quantifiable.

Results should be correlated with clinical presentation and history

Outreach CPTs

CPT	Modifier (if needed)	Quantity	Description	Comments
87449		1