ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Coccidioides Antibody, IgM by ELISA : 0050178

Mnemonic: COCCI M

Methodology: Semi-Quantitative Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Performed: Mon-Fri
Reported: 1-5 days
Specimen Required: Collect: Serum separator tube OR CSF.

Specimen Preparation: Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum OR CSF to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.15 mL) Parallel testing is preferred and convalescent specimens must be received within 30 days from receipt of the acute specimens. Mark specimens plainly as acute or convalescent.

Storage/Transport Temperature: Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions: Contaminated, hemolyzed, or severely lipemic specimens.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): After separation from cells: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)
Reference Interval:
0.9 IV or less: Negative - No significant level of Coccidioides IgM antibody detected.
1.0-1.4 IV: Equivocal - Questionable presence of Coccidioides IgM antibody detected.  Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
1.5 IV or greater: Positive - Presence of IgM antibody to Coccidioides detected, suggestive of current or recent infection.
Interpretive Data: In most symptomatic patients, IgM antibodies usually appear by the second week of infection and disappear by the fourth month. Both tube precipitin (TP) and CF antigens are represented in the ELISA tests.
Note: Negative fungal serology does not rule out the possibility of current infection.
CPT Code(s): 86635
Cross References: San Joaquin Fever Antibody (Coccidioides Antibody, IgM by ELISA) , Valley Fever IgM (Coccidioides Antibody, IgM by ELISA)