Diagnostic value of combined detection of cryptococcal antigen in serum and lung puncture fluid using lateral flow assay for diagnosing pulmonary cryptococcosis: a single-center prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the diagnostic value of the combined detection of cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) in the serum and lung puncture fluid (LPF) using a lateral flow assay (LFA) in patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC).

Methods

Patients with suspected PC were prospectively enrolled between June 2023 and July 2025 and underwent the IMMY CrAg LFA (Immuno-Mycologics, Norman, OK, United States) of serum and LPF specimens. Conventional fungal cultures were performed simultaneously and the diagnostic efficiencies of these methods for PC were compared.

Results

Samples were obtained from 167 patients, 33 with PC and 134 without PC. Among patients with PC, the sensitivity of serum CrAg testing was 75.8% [95% confidence interval (CI), 61.1-90.4%; 25/33] and that of LPF CrAg

SUBMITTER: Huang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12855499 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature