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Test Code SBL Blastomyces Antibody Immunodiffusion, Serum


Specimen Required


Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Useful For

Detection of antibodies in serum specimens from patients with blastomycosis

Method Name

Immunodiffusion (ID)

Reporting Name

Blastomyces Ab, Immunodiffusion, S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.3 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject

Clinical Information

The dimorphic fungus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, causes blastomycosis. When the organism is inhaled, it causes pulmonary disease-cough, pain, and hemoptysis, along with fever and night sweats. It commonly spreads to the skin, bone, or internal genitalia where suppuration and granulomas are typical. Occasionally, primary cutaneous lesions after trauma are encountered; however, this type of infection is uncommon.

Reference Values

Negative

Interpretation

A positive result is suggestive of infection, but the results cannot distinguish between active disease and prior exposure.

 

Routine culture of clinical specimens (eg, respiratory specimen) is recommended in cases of suspected, active blastomycosis.

Cautions

Mayo Clinic Laboratories' experience with the immunodiffusion test is that it is positive in fewer cases of blastomycosis than the 70% to 85% reported elsewhere.

 

Patients with histoplasmosis may have low-titered cross reactions.

Method Description

The immunodiffusion (ID) test is a qualitative test employed for the detection of precipitating antibodies present in the serum. Soluble antigens of the fungus are placed in wells of an agarose gel-filled Petri dish and the patient's serum and a control (positive) serum are placed in adjoining wells. If present, specific precipitate antibody will form precipitin lines between the wells. Their comparison to the control serum establishes the results. When performing the ID test, only precipitin bands of identity with the reference bands are significant.(Kaufman L, Kovacs JA, Reiss E. Clinical immunomycology. In: Rose NL, Conway-de Macario E, Folds JD, Lane HC, Nakamura RM, eds. Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology. ASM Press; 1997:587-588; Kaufman L, McLaughlin DW, Clark MJ, Blumer S. Specific immunodiffusion test for blastomycosis. Appl Microbiol. 1973;26:244-247; Williams JE, Murphy R, Standard PG, Phair JP. Serologic response in blastomycosis: diagnostic value of double immunodiffusion assay. Am Rev Resp Dis. 1981;123:209-212; Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

2 to 5 days

Specimen Retention Time

14 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86612

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
SBL Blastomyces Ab, Immunodiffusion, S 5058-3

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
15125 Blastomyces Immunodiffusion 5058-3