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Test ID: SCOC    
Coccidioides Antibody, Serum

Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Complement Fixation (CF):

Antibody to coccidioidin in the patient's serum is quantitated by CF. The CF test is a 2-stage test based on the ability of antigen-antibody complexes to bind complement (C’). In the first stage, antigen and antibody combine and fix C’. The second stage is an indicator system in which sheep erythrocytes, sensitized by rabbit anti-sheep red cell antibody (hemolysin), are used to demonstrate the presence of unfixed C’. If the patient’s serum contains C’-fixing antibody that reacts with the specific antigen (a positive reaction), C’ will be fixed and excess C’ will not be available to react with and lyse the sensitized sheep erythrocytes. If no antigen-antibody reaction occurs (a negative reaction), C’ will be available to lyse the sheep erythrocytes. The CF titer is determined by the greatest dilution of serum (antibody) in which the sheep erythrocytes are not lysed. (Kaufman L, Kovacs JA, Reiss E: Immunomycology. In Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology. 5th edition. Edited by NR Rose, ED de Macario, JD Folds, et al. Washington, DC, ASM Press, 1997 pp 591-592; Pappagianis D, Zimmer BL: Serology of coccidioidomycosis. Clin Microbiol Rev 1990;3:247-268)

 

Immunodiffusion (ID):

ID is a qualitative test employed for the detection of precipitating antibodies present in the serum. Soluble antigens of the fungus are placed in wells of an agarose gel filled Petri dish and the patient’s serum and a control (positive) serum are placed in adjoining wells. If present, specific precipitate antibody will form precipitin lines between the wells. Their comparison to the control serum establishes the results. When performing the ID test, only precipitin bands of identity with the reference bands are significant. (Kaufman L, Kovacs JA, Reiss E: Immunomycology. In Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology. 5th edition. Edited by NR Rose,EC de Macario, JD Folds, et al. Washington, DC, ASM Press, 1997, pp 591-593; Pappagianis D, Zimmer BL: Serology of coccidioidomycosis. Clin Microbiol Rev 1990;3:247-268)

Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.

Monday through Friday; 9:30 a.m.

Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.

4 days

Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result

7 days

Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester