Performance of the Lateral Flow Assay and the Latex Agglutination Serum Cryptococcal Antigen Test in Cryptococcal Disease in Patients with and without HIV.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcal epidemiology is shifting toward HIV-negative populations who have diverse presentations. Cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) testing is also changing, with development of the lateral flow assay (LFA) having reported increased sensitivity and specificity, but with minimal knowledge in the HIV-negative population. In this study, we evaluate the real-life performance of CrAg testing in patients with cryptococcal disease. We conducted a retrospective review of patients with cryptococcosis from 2002 to 2019 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Latex agglutination (LA) was used exclusively until April 2016, at which point LFA was used exclusively. Demographics, presentations, and testing outcomes were evaluated. Serum CrAg testing was completed in 227 patients with cryptococcosis. Of 141 HIV-negative

SUBMITTER: Hevey MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7587084 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature