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CSF coccidioides complement fixation test
Coccidioides antibody test - spinal fluid
CSF coccidioides complement fixation is a test that checks for infection due to the fungus Coccidioides in the cerebrospinal (CSF) fluid. This is the fluid surrounding the brain and spine. The name of this infection is coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever.
Valley fever.
Valley fever is an infection that occurs when the spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis enter your body through the lungs.
This test can also be done as a blood test .
Blood test
Coccidioides complement fixation is a blood test that looks for antibodies to the fungus Coccidioides immitis. This fungus causes the disease coccid...
How the Test is Performed
A sample of spinal fluid is needed for this test. The sample is usually obtained by lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
Lumbar puncture
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...
The sample is sent to a laboratory. There, it is examined for Coccidioides antibodies using a laboratory method called complement fixation. This technique checks if your body has produced substances called antibodies to a specific foreign substance (antigen), in this case Coccidioides .
Complement
Complement is a blood test that measures the activity of certain proteins in the liquid portion of your blood. The complement system is a group of pr...
Antibodies defend your body against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. If the antibodies are present, they stick, or "fix" themselves, to the antigen. This is why the test is called "fixation."
How to Prepare for the Test
Follow your health care provider’s instructions on how to prepare for the test. Expect to be in the hospital for several hours afterward.
During the test:
- You lie on your side with knees pulled up toward your chest and chin tucked downward. Or, you sit up, but bent forward.
- After your back is cleaned, the doctor injects a local numbing medicine (anesthetic) into your lower spine.
- A spinal needle is inserted, usually into the lower back area.
- Once the needle is properly positioned, CSF pressure is measured and a sample is collected.
- The needle is removed, the area is cleaned, and a bandage is placed over the needle site.
- You are taken to a recovery area where you rest for several hours to prevent any CSF leakage.
Why the Test is Performed
This test checks if your central nervous system has an active infection from Coccidioides .
Normal Results
The absence of fungus (a negative test) is normal.
What Abnormal Results Mean
If the test is positive for fungus, there may be an active infection in the central nervous system.
An abnormal spinal fluid test means that the central nervous system is infected. But an abnormal blood test does not pinpoint the exact area of infection. It only means that there is a coccidioides infection somewhere in the body.
During the early stage of an illness, few antibodies may be detected. Antibody production increases during the course of an infection. For this reason, this test may be repeated several weeks after the first test.
Risks
Risks of lumbar puncture include:
- Bleeding into the spinal canal
- Discomfort during the test
- Headache after the test
- Hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to the anesthetic
- Infection introduced by the needle going through the skin
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Damage to the nerves in the spinal cord, especially if the person moves during the test
References
Galgiani JN. Coccidioidomycosis ( Coccidioides species). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 267.
Iwen PC. Mycotic diseases. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods . 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 61.
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Blood test - illustration
Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.
Blood test
illustration
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Blood test - illustration
Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.
Blood test
illustration
Review Date: 5/1/2015
Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
