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Elimination of false‐positive Histoplasma antigenemia caused by human anti‐rabbit antibodies in the second‐generation Histoplasma antigen assay
Author(s) -
Wheat L.J.,
Connolly P.,
Durkin M.,
Book B.K.,
Pescovitz M.D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
transplant infectious disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1399-3062
pISSN - 1398-2273
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2006.00151.x
Subject(s) - histoplasmosis , medicine , histoplasma , antibody , antigen , immunology , pathology , histoplasma capsulatum
False‐positive Histoplasma antigenemia was reported in solid organ allograft recipients who had received rabbit anti‐thymocyte globulin (RATG, RATG ® ) caused by human anti‐rabbit antibodies (HARA). A second‐generation Histoplasma antigen detection assay was developed to overcome false positivity caused by HARA. With the second‐generation assay, false‐positive results were eliminated in 18 of 19 cases without reduction in the sensitivity in patients with histoplasmosis. In fact, sensitivity for detection of antigenuria in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and disseminated histoplasmosis was higher in the second‐generation assay. Physicians should be aware of the potential for false‐positive results in sandwich immunoassays in specimens from patients who have received RATG.