Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis with negative cryptococcal antigen: Evaluation of a new immunochromatographic detection assay

O Opota; B Desgraz; A Kenfak; K Jaton; M Cavassini; G Greub; G Prod'hom; S Giulieri

doi:10.1016/j.nmni.2014.12.003

Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis with negative cryptococcal antigen: Evaluation of a new immunochromatographic detection assay

New Microbes New Infect. 2014 Dec 19:4:1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.nmni.2014.12.003. eCollection 2015 Mar.

Authors

O Opota¹, B Desgraz², A Kenfak², K Jaton¹, M Cavassini², G Greub³, G Prod'hom¹, S Giulieri²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Microbiology, Switzerland.
² Infectious Diseases Service, University of Lausanne and University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
³ Institute of Microbiology, Switzerland ; Infectious Diseases Service, University of Lausanne and University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Abstract

Detection of cryptococcal antigen in serum or cerebrospinal fluid allows cryptococcal meningitis diagnosis within few hours with >90% sensitivity. In an HIV-positive patient with Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis, initial antigen detection by immunoagglutination was negative. We thus evaluated a new immunochromatographic detection assay that exhibited a higher sensitivity.

Keywords: Antigen test; Cryptococcus neoformans; HIV; immunochromatography; meningitis.