Aspergillus antibodies
Aspergillus antibodies
For the following tests, please send serum (300 µl minimum) or 3mL clotted blood in a plain tube; EDTA blood is not suitable.
Please note this test is provided by the Immunology Department. Clinical advice is available from the Mycology Clinical Scientists
Use(s):
Diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, aspergilloma, paranasal sinus aspergillosis, other forms of aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients.
Description:
Quantitation of IgG antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus in serum using a commercial automated Fluorescent Immuno Enzyme Assay (ImmunoCAP).
Results:
Results are returned as mg Antibody per litre (mgA/L) and range from <2.0 to >200.
Interpretation:
As Aspergillus fumigatus spores are common in the environment and almost everyone is exposed to them, low levels of antibody to A. fumigatus are found in many patients and are not clinically significant. However, the level of antibody which is considered significant is dependant upon the underlying conditions of the patient. In people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) there are relatively higher levels of antibody to A. fumigatus compared to other patient groups; for CF patients levels of antibody >90 mgA/L are considered significant. In non-CF patients levels of antibody >40 mgA/L are considered significant.
Note:
The uncertainty of measurement of this assay has been characterised in the following way, a positive control sample at the approximate level the same as the cutoff for a positive result (40mg/L), tested over 8 months yielded a mean of 49.95 mg/L and a standard deviation of 3.53, thus we estimate that 95% of all samples at this level will have a range from + or - 6.92 mg/L.
