Bloch KC, et al. – A retrospective multicenter study was undertaken to assess the sensitivity and specificity of a new anti–Histoplasma antibody enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of IgG and IgM antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) histoplasmosis. The study also determined the effect of improvements in the Histoplasma galactomannan antigen detection EIA on the diagnosis of Histoplasma meningitis. As per observations, testing CSF for anti–Histoplasma IgG and IgM antibody seemed to compliment antigen detection and improve the sensitivity for diagnosis of Histoplasma meningitis.

• Researchers identified CNS histoplasmosis as a life–threatening condition; this represented a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
• For diagnosis, isolation of H. capsulatum from CSF or brain tissue seemed definitive; however, culture was insensitive and slow growth could result in significant treatment delay.
• They tested residual CSF specimens from patients with Histoplasmameningitis and controls for Histoplasma antigen and anti–Histoplasma IgG and IgM antibody using assays developed at MiraVista Diagnostics.