Most pathogenic fungi elicit antibodies in immunocompetent hosts. Assays for fungal antibodies are used to diagnose invasive deep-seated recent or current infections. Serologic testing for parasitic organisms or antibodies in the blood sample is also used in the diagnosis of infections. Depending on the antibody to be identified, testing uses the various assay techniques mentioned in the introduction of this chapter. Table 3-9 indicates the fungal and parasitic infections for which tests are available and the causes of alteration in the test results.
| Organism | Complement Fixation Titers | Immunodiffusion Test | Agglutination | Other Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fungi | ||||
| Histoplasma capsulatum | <1:8 | Negative | – | – |
| Blastomyces dermatitidis | <1:8 | Negative | – | – |
| Coccidioides immitis | <1:2 | Negative | – | – |
| Aspergillus fumigatus | <1:8 | Negative | – | – |
| Cryptococcus neoformans | – | – | Negative | – |
| Sporotrichum schenckii | – | – | 1:40 | – |
| Candida albicans | – | – | – | Latex agglutination (LA) test <1:8 |
| Parasites | ||||
| Toxoplasma gondii | – | – | – | Indirect fluorescent antibody tests <1:16 |
| Entamoeba histolytica | – | – | – | Indirect hemagglutination test <1:32 |
Nursing Care Before the Procedure
Client preparation is the same as that for any study involving the collection of a peripheral blood sample (see Appendix I).
A venipuncture is performed and the sample collected in a red-topped tube. Venipuncture should not be performed on or near any fungal skin lesions. The sample must be handled gently and transported promptly to the laboratory.
Nursing Care After the Procedure
Care and assessment after the procedure are the same as for any study involving the collection of a peripheral blood sample.