Mayo Test Catalog, (Sorted By Test Name) - Mayo Medical ...

SCRYP
86167
CCRYP
86166
passive transfer of antibody from blood, and contamination
via bloody taps.
Test Performed by: Focus Diagnostics, Inc.
5785 Corporate Avenue
Cypress, CA 90630-4750
Cryptococcus Antigen Screen, Serum
Clinical Information: Cryptococcosis is an invasive fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus
neoformans. The organism has been isolated from several sites in nature, particularly weathered pigeon
droppings. Infection is usually acquired via the pulmonary route. Patients are often unaware of any
exposure history. Approximately half of the patients with symptomatic disease have a predisposing
immunosuppressive condition such as AIDS, steroid therapy, lymphoma, or sarcoidosis. Symptoms may
include fever, headache, dizziness, ataxia, somnolence, and cough. In addition to the lungs, cryptococcal
infections frequently involve the central nervous system (CNS), particularly in patients infected with
HIV. Mortality in CNS cryptococcosis may approach 25% despite antibiotic therapy. Untreated CNS
cryptococcosis is invariably fatal. Disseminated disease may affect any organ system and usually occurs
in immunosuppressed individuals.
Useful For: Aiding in the diagnosis of cryptococcosis
Interpretation: The presence of cryptococcal antigen in any body fluid (serum or cerebrospinal fluid
[CSF]) is indicative of cryptococcosis. Specimens that are positive or equivocal by EIA are
automatically reflexed to a latex agglutination (LA) test for confirmation. The LA assay will detect
cryptococcal antigen in serum specimens in most cases of CNS or disseminated disease. In addition, the
LA assay will detect the antigen in approximately 30% of infected patients who are asymptomatic.
Disseminated infection is usually accompanied by a positive serum test. Higher titers appear to correlate
with more severe infections. Declining titers may indicate regression of infection. However, monitoring
titers to cryptococcal antigen should not be used as a test of cure, as low level titers may persist for
extended periods of time following appropriate therapy and the resolution of infection, as measured by
smear and culture.
Reference Values:
Negative
Clinical References: 1. Warren NG, Hazen KC: Candida, Cryptococcus, and other yeasts of
medical importance. In Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 7th edition. Edited by PR Murray.
Washington, DC, ASM Press, 1999, pp 1184-1199 2. Lu H, Zhou Y, Yin Y, et al: Cryptococcal antigen
test revisited: significance for cryptococcal meningitis therapy monitoring in a tertiary Chinese hospital.
J Clin Microbiol 2005 June;43(6):2989-2990
Cryptococcus Antigen Screen, Spinal Fluid
Clinical Information: Cryptococcosis is an invasive fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus
neoformans. The organism has been isolated from several sites in nature, particularly weathered pigeon
droppings. Infection is thought to be acquired primarily via the pulmonary route. Patients are often
unaware of any unusual exposure history. Approximately half of the patients with symptomatic disease
have a predisposing immunosuppressive condition such as AIDS, steroid therapy, lymphoma, or
sarcoidosis. Symptoms may include fever, headache, dizziness, ataxia, somnolence, and cough. In
addition to the lungs, cryptococcal infections frequently involve the central nervous system (CNS),
particularly in patients infected with HIV. Mortality in CNS cryptococcosis may approach 25% despite
antibiotic therapy. Untreated CNS cryptococcosis is invariably fatal. Disseminated disease may affect
any organ system and usually occurs in immunosuppressed individuals.
Useful For: Aiding in the diagnosis of cryptococcosis
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