Reference Interval:
< 1:2
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| Interpretive Data: |
Any titer suggests past or current infection. However, greater than 30% 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; titers greater than or equal to 1:32 may indicate disseminated infection. CF serology may be used to follow therapy. Antibody in CSF is considered diagnostic for coccidioidal meningitis, although 10% of patients with coccidioidal meningitis will not have antibody in CSF.
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| Note: |
CF measures both IgM and IgG. As single antibody titers are generally not diagnostic, paired samples are preferred. Acute and convalescent samples (drawn at least 21 days apart), showing at least a fourfold rise in titer, are diagnostic.
Negative fungal serology does not rule out the possibility of current infection.
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| CPT Code(s): |
86635
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