Abstract
A latex agglutination test for cryptococcal antigen, the Eiken Latex test (Eiken, Tokyo, Japan), was compared with a monoclonal antibody-based agglutination assay, Pastorex® Cryptococcus (Diagnostics Pasteur, Marneur-la-Coquette, France). In a murine model of disseminated cryptococcosis, the kinetics of the antigen titers by the Eiken Latex were similar to those by the Pastorex® Cryptococcus, but sensitivity was much higher. In HIV-negative patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis, a cryptococcal antigen was detected in 6 of 10 patients by the Eiken Latex test and in only 3 of those patients by the Pastorex® Cryptococcus. The results indicate that the Eiken Latex is more sensitive for the detection of the cryptococcal antigen, even in non-disseminated cryptococcosis. The sensitivity and specificity of the Eiken Latex were examined using 195 sera from 25 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis and 170 patients with non-cryptococcosis. The cutoff value of ≥ 1:8 showed a sensitivity of 76% (19/25) and a specificity of 98.9% (168/170).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Shinoda T, Ikeda R, Nishikawa A, Ohtsuka M, Futami S, Sadamoto S, Sasaki Y. Development and comparative evaluation of anti-Cryptococcus neoformans antibody coated latex reagent for serodiagnosis of cryptococcosis. Jpn J Med Mycol 1989; 30: 211–21.
Dromer F, Salamero J, Contrepois A, Carbon C, Yeni P. Production, characterization, and antibody of a mouse monoclonal antibody reactive withCryptococcus neoformans capsular polysaccharide. Infect Immun 1987; 55: 742–48.
Miyazaki T, Kohno S, Kaku M, Koga H, Yamaguchi K. Liposome-encapsulated amphotericin B in the treatment of experimental murine candidiasis. Tohoku J Exp Med 1990; 161: 273–81.
Temstet A, Roux P, Poirot J, Ronin O, Dromer F. Evaluation of a monoclonal antibody-based latex agglutination test for diagnosis of cryptococcosis: Comparison with two tests using polyclonal antibodies. J Clin Micro 1992; 30: 2544–50.
Frank UE, Nishimura SL, Li NC, Sugai K, Yajko DM, Hadley WK, Ng VL. Evaluation of an enzyme immunoassay for detection of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. J Clin Micro 1993; 31: 97–101.
Shinoda T, Ikeda R, Nishikawa A, Ohtsuka M, Fukuzawa Y. Serodiagnosis of cryptococcosis. Jpn J Mycol 1985; 26: 276–83.
Kaufman L, and Reiss E. Serodiagnosis of fungal diseases. In Rose NR, Friedman H, Fahey J, eds. Mannual of clinical laboratory immunology. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology 1986: 446–66.
Kohno S, Yasuoka A, Koga M, Maesaki S, Tanaka K, Matsuda H, Hara K. High detection rates of cryptococcal antigen in pulmonary cryptococcosis by Eiken Latex agglutination test with pronase pretreatment. Mycopathologia 1993; 123: 75–59.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tanaka, Ki., Kohno, S., Miyazaki, T. et al. The Eiken Latex test for detection of a cryptococcal antigen in cryptococcosis. Mycopathologia 127, 131–134 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102911
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102911