Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 19, 2026
08:01
Detection of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Haematological Malignancy Patients by using Lateral-flow Technology
Published on: March 22, 2012
29.4K
Cryptococcal antigen detection in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid
Y Senghor1, J Guitard1,2, A Angoulvant3,4
1AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, F-75012, Paris, France.
Medical Mycology
|November 1, 2017
Summary
Cryptococcal antigen (CryAg) testing in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is not recommended for routine use. While CryAg was detected in some cases, its performance metrics do not support its widespread application in BALF diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Medical Diagnostics
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Cryptococcal antigen (CryAg) testing is crucial for diagnosing cryptococcosis using serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- The utility of CryAg detection in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) remains less established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of a specific CryAg enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit (Premier EIA, Meridian) in BALF samples.
- To assess the diagnostic accuracy of CryAg detection in BALF over a seven-year period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 4650 BALF samples analyzed between 2007 and 2013.
- Comparison of CryAg detection results with BALF culture results.
Main Results:
- Cryptococcal antigen was detected in 12 BALF samples, while positive cultures were identified in nine samples.
- The sensitivity ranged from 0.44 to 0.80, specificity was 0.99, positive predictive value was 0.36, and negative predictive value was 0.99.
- The performance varied based on radio-clinical presentation.
Conclusions:
- The diagnostic performance of CryAg testing in BALF, particularly its predictive values, does not support its routine implementation.
- Further research may be needed to clarify specific clinical scenarios where BALF CryAg testing could be beneficial.
