Ordering Recommendation

Aids in the diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis. Includes testing by immunoassay (IgM and IgG), complement fixation, and immunodiffusion. For reflex testing, refer to Coccidioides Antibodies Reflexive Panel, Serum (3001982).

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Serum separator tube (SST).

Specimen Preparation

Separate from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 2 mL serum to an ARUP standard transport tube. (Min: 1.2 mL) Parallel testing is preferred and convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of the acute specimens.

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

Other body fluids. Contaminated, hemolyzed, icteric, or lipemic specimens.

Remarks

Mark specimens plainly as "acute" or "convalescent."

Stability

Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)

Methodology

Semi-Quantitative Complement Fixation/Qualitative Immunodiffusion /Semi-Quantitative Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

3-6 days

Reference Interval

Test Number
Components
Reference Interval
  Coccidioides Antibody by CF Less than 1:2
  Coccidioides by Immunodiffusion, Serum Not detected.
  Coccidioides Antibody, IgM by ELISA 0.9 IV or less
  Coccidioides Antibody, IgG by ELISA 0.9 IV or less

Interpretive Data

A titer of 1:2 or greater suggests past or current infection. However, greater than 30 percent of cases with chronic residual pulmonary disease have negative complement fixation (CF) tests. Titers of less than 1:32 (even as low as 1:2) may indicate past infection or self-limited disease; anticoccidioidal CF antibody titers in excess of 1:16 may indicate disseminated infection. CF serology may be used to follow therapy. Antibody in CSF is considered diagnostic for coccidioidal meningitis, although 10 percent of patients with coccidioidal meningitis will not have antibody in CSF.


Component
Unit Of Measure
Interpretation
Coccidioides Antibody, IgG by ELISA 0.9 IV or less
1.0-1.4 IV
1.5 IV or greater
Negative - No significant level of Coccidioides IgG antibody detected.
Equivocal - Questionable presence of Coccidioides IgG antibody detected.  Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
Positive - Presence of IgG antibody to Coccidioides detected, suggestive of current or past infection.
Coccidioides Antibody, IgM by ELISA 0.9 IV or less
1.0-1.4 IV
1.5 IV or greater
Negative - No significant level of Coccidioides IgM antibody detected.
Equivocal - Questionable presence of Coccidioides IgM antibody detected.  Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
Positive - Presence of IgM antibody to Coccidioides detected, suggestive of current or recent infection.

Compliance Category

Standard

Note

The immunodiffusion component of this test uses culture filtrates of Coccidioides immitis and includes CF and TP antigens.

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

86635 x4

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0050170 Coccidioides Antibody by CF 33380-7
0050178 Coccidioides Antibody, IgM by ELISA 90448-2
0050179 Coccidioides Antibody, IgG by ELISA 27009-0
0050183 Coccidioides by Immunodiffusion, Serum 5095-5
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • CF
  • Coccidioides immitis
  • Coccidioidomycosis
  • Precipitin
  • TP
  • Valley fever
Coccidioides Antibodies Panel, Serum