scholarly journals Point-of-Care Diagnosis and Prognostication of Cryptococcal Meningitis With the Cryptococcal Antigen Lateral Flow Assay on Cerebrospinal Fluid

2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taseera Kabanda ◽  
Mark J. Siedner ◽  
Jeffrey D. Klausner ◽  
Conrad Muzoora ◽  
David R. Boulware
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Cryptococcal Meningitis ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Lateral Flow Assay ◽  
Cryptococcal Antigen

scholarly journals LATERAL FLOW ASSAY FOR CRYPTOCOCCAL ANTIGEN: AN IMPORTANT ADVANCE TO IMPROVE THE CONTINUUM OF HIV CARE AND REDUCE CRYPTOCOCCAL MENINGITIS-RELATED MORTALITY

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (suppl 19) ◽  
pp. 38-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose E. VIDAL ◽  
David R. BOULWARE
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Cryptococcal Meningitis ◽  
Capsular Polysaccharide ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Lateral Flow Assay ◽  
World Health ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Analytical Sensitivity ◽  
Symptomatic Infection ◽  
Cryptococcal Antigen

SUMMARYAIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis continues to cause a substantial burden of death in low and middle income countries. The diagnostic use for detection of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen (CrAg) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid by latex agglutination test (CrAg-latex) or enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) has been available for over decades. Better diagnostics in asymptomatic and symptomatic phases of cryptococcosis are key components to reduce mortality. Recently, the cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay (CrAg LFA) was included in the armamentarium for diagnosis. Unlike the other tests, the CrAg LFA is a dipstick immunochromatographic assay, in a format similar to the home pregnancy test, and requires little or no lab infrastructure. This test meets all of the World Health Organization ASSURED criteria (Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User friendly, Rapid/robust, Equipment-free, and Delivered). CrAg LFA in serum, plasma, whole blood, or cerebrospinal fluid is useful for the diagnosis of disease caused by Cryptococcusspecies. The CrAg LFA has better analytical sensitivity for C. gattii than CrAg-latex or EIA. Prevention of cryptococcal disease is new application of CrAg LFA via screening of blood for subclinical infection in asymptomatic HIV-infected persons with CD4 counts < 100 cells/mL who are not receiving effective antiretroviral therapy. CrAg screening of leftover plasma specimens after CD4 testing can identify persons with asymptomatic infection who urgently require pre-emptive fluconazole, who will otherwise progress to symptomatic infection and/or die.

The cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay: A point-of-care diagnostic at an opportune time

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 634-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele W. Tang ◽  
Karl V. Clemons ◽  
David A. Katzenstein ◽  
David A. Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Lateral Flow Assay ◽  
Cryptococcal Antigen ◽  
Opportune Time

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Dynamiker Cryptococcal Antigen Lateral Flow Assay for the Diagnosis of HIV-Associated Cryptococcosis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kwizera ◽  
Denis Omali ◽  
Kiiza Tadeo ◽  
John Kasibante ◽  
Morris K. Rutakingirwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Diagnostic Performance ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Lateral Flow Assay ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cryptococcal Antigen ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis is a leading cause of meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa. Given the need for rapid point of care testing, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Dynamiker cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) lateral flow assay (LFA). Methods: We assessed the diagnostic performance of the Dynamiker CrAg-LFA compared to the IMMY CrAg-LFA as the reference standard. We tested 150 serum, 115 plasma, 100 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from HIV patients with symptomatic meningitis and 113 serum samples from patients with suspected asymptomatic cryptococcal antigenemia. Results: Compared to the IMMY CrAg-LFA, sensitivity of Dynamiker CrAg-LFA was 98% in serum, 100% in plasma, 100% in CSF from symptomatic patients and 96% in serum from asymptomatic patients. Specificity was 66% in serum, 61% in plasma, 91% in CSF from symptomatic patients, and 86% in serum from asymptomatic patients. The positive predictive value was 85% in serum, 82% in plasma, 96% in CSF from symptomatic patients, and 69% in serum from asymptomatic patients. The negative predictive value was 94% in serum, 100% in plasma, 100% in CSF from symptomatic patients, and 99% in serum from asymptomatic patients. The inter-assay reproducibility was 100% across the four sample types with no observed discordant results when Dynamiker CrAg-LFA was tested in duplicate. However, a high number of false positives were observed on serum of symptomatic patients (11%), serum of asymptomatic patients (11%) and plasma of symptomatic patients (14%). Conclusion: The Dynamiker CrAg-LFA had excellent sensitivity but poor specificity, particularly when tested on serum and plasma.

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