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Fungitell

Beta-D-Glucan

Test Codes

MiraVista #317, CSF: EPIC: LAB6983, Beaker: XFGTC, Serum: EPIC: LAB6982, Beaker: XFGTS

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect one of the following specimen types:

• CSF: 0.5 mL in a sterile collection container. (Minimum: 0.2 mL)
• Blood: One Gold-top SST tube or one plain Red-top tube. (Minimum: 0.2 mL)

Send specimen for processing immediately after collection.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

CSF: Maintain specimen refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).
Blood: Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: CSF in a sterile collection container and/or serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum CSF/Serum: 0.2 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Icteric specimens.
• Lipemic specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

CSF: Maintain specimen refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).
Blood: Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Transport: CSF in a sterile collection container and/or serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum CSF/Serum: 0.2 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 5 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Indefinite

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to MiraVista Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN.

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available in 2-4 days.

Reference Range

Negative: Less than 60 pg/mL.
Indeterminate: 60-79 pg/mL.
Positive: 80 - greater than 500 pg/mL.

Test Methodology

Colorimetric assay utilizing a (1→3)-β-D-Glucan-specific Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) reagent.

Interpretation

The Fungitell assay does not detect certain fungal species such as genus Cryptococcus which produces very low levels of (1→3)-β-D-Glucan. The assay also does not detect Zygomycetes such as Absidia, Mucor, and Rhizopus, which are not known to produce (1→3)-β-D-Glucan. In addition, the yeast phase of Blastomyces dermatitidis produces little (1→3)-β-D-Glucan and may not be detected by the assay.

Clinical Utility

This assay aids in the presumptive diagnosis of invasive fungal disease in at-risk patients.

CPT Codes

87449
LOINC:  62468-4

Contacts

Last Updated

3/4/2022