Aspergillus Enzyme Immunoassay Research Articles

Defining a case of invasive aspergillosis by serum galactomannan.

The timely diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains difficult. In recent years, increased experience has been gained with the Platelia™ Aspergillus enzyme immunoassay. However, the excellent sensitivity and high positive predictive value that has been reported in earlier studies cannot consistently be reproduced in some of the more recent studies. As expected, this stems from major methodological and clinical heterogeneities between studies. This article reviews these between-study heterogeneities and concludes that the detection of serum galactomannan can be used to define a case of IA in a well-defined population of at-risk patients.

Galactomannan and advances in fungal diagnostics

Purpose of review Invasive fungal infections remain a predominant cause of morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised population. Fungal diagnostics, namely the Platelia Aspergillus enzyme immunoassay (Bio-Rad, Redmond, WA) and the Fungitell 1→3-β-D-glucan assay (Associates of Cape Cod, East Falmouth, MA), are now commercially available to assist clinicians in the early diagnosis of fungal infections. This review highlights the performance characteristics of these tests and introduces the reader to other advances in fungal diagnostics. Recent findings Early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in patients with leukemia and hematopoietic stem cell transplants is facilitated by the use of the Platelia Aspergillus enzyme immunoassay. This test may also be useful for monitoring the course of invasive aspergillosis. The Fungitell1→3-β-D-glucan assay can be used for early diagnosis of fungal infections due to multiple different organisms, including certain non-Aspergillus mould infections and invasive candidiasis. Physicians utilizing these fungal diagnostic tests should be aware of important issues regarding test performance. Summary Advances in fungal diagnostics are an important addition to the diagnosis and management of invasive fungal infections. Additional tests such as fungal polymerase chain reaction are on the horizon and are expected to be helpful adjuncts to the diagnosis and management of invasive fungal infections.

Efficacy of galactomannan antigen in the Platelia Aspergillus enzyme immunoassay for diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in liver transplant recipients.

The utility of galactomannan antigen for diagnosing invasive aspergillosis was evaluated in 154 liver transplant recipients. Sample agreement was 98.5%, and patient specificity was 87%. Galactomannan positivity correlated with mortality, even when controlled for the number of tests performed. Whether galactomannan positivity identifies a subgroup at risk for poor outcome warrants further evaluation.