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Albert E, Alcaraz MJ, Giménez E, Clari MÁ, Torres I, Colomina J, Olea B, Tormo M, Piñana JL, Oltra R, Signes-Costa J, Carbonell N, Solano C, Navarro D. Comparative performance of the Platelia Aspergillus Antigen and Aspergillus Galactomannan antigen Virclia Monotest immunoassays in serum and lower respiratory tract specimens: a "real-life" experience. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0391023. [PMID: 38916338 PMCID: PMC11302238 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03910-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The Platelia Aspergillus Antigen immunoassay is the "gold standard" for Aspergillus galactomannan (GLM) measurement in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). We evaluated the performance of the Aspergillus GLM antigen Virclia Monotest compared to the Platelia assay. A total of 535 specimens [320 sera, 86 bronchial aspirates (BAs), 70 BAL, and 59 tracheal aspirates (TAs)] from 177 adult patients (72 hematological, 32 Intensive Care Unit, and 73 hospitalized in other wards) were processed for GLM testing upon clinical request. One patient had proven IPA, and 11 had probable disease. After excluding indeterminate Virclia results (n = 38), 396 specimens yielded concordant results (56 positive and 340 negative) and 101 discordant results (Virclia positive/Platelia negative, n = 95). The overall agreement between immunoassays was higher for sera (κ 0.56) than for BAL (κ ≤ 0.24) or BAS and TA (κ ≤ 0.22). When considering all specimen types in combination, the overall sensitivity and specificity of the Virclia assay for the diagnosis of proven/probable IPA were 100% and 65%, respectively, and for the Platelia immunoassay, sensitivity and specificity were 91.7% and 89.4%, respectively. The correlation between index values by both immunoassays was strong for serum/BAL (ρ = 0.73; P < 0.001) and moderate for BAS/TA (Rho = 0.52; P = 0.001). The conversion of Virclia index values into the Platelia index could be derived by the formula y = (11.97 * X)/3.62 + X). Data from GLM-positive serum/BAL clinical specimens fitted the regression model optimally (R2 = 0.94), whereas that of BAS and TA data did not (R2 = 0.11). Further studies are needed to determine whether the Virclia assay may be an alternative to the Platelia assay for GLM measurement in sera and lower respiratory tract specimens.IMPORTANCEGalactomannan detection in serum or bronchoalveolar fluid specimens is pivotal for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). The Platelia Aspergillus Antigen immunoassay has become the "gold standard" for Aspergillus GLM measurement. Here, we provide data suggesting that the Virclia Monotest assay, which displays several operational advantages compared with the Platelia assay, may become an alternative to the Platelia assay, although further studies are needed to validate this assumption. We also provide a formula allowing the conversion of Virclia index values into Platelia values. The study may contribute toward positioning the Virclia assay within the diagnostic algorithm of IPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliseo Albert
- Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Jesús Alcaraz
- Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Estela Giménez
- Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Clari
- Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ignacio Torres
- Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Javier Colomina
- Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Olea
- Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mar Tormo
- Hematology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - José Luis Piñana
- Hematology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosa Oltra
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jaime Signes-Costa
- Pulmonary Department, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nieves Carbonell
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Solano
- Hematology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - David Navarro
- Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Microbiology School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Wheat LJ. Antigen detection, serology, and molecular diagnosis of invasive mycoses in the immunocompromised host. Transpl Infect Dis 2006; 8:128-39. [PMID: 16913971 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2006.00165.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the uses and limitations of methods for rapid diagnosis of fungal disease is essential in order to diagnose and treat these infections early in their course. Antigen detection methods are useful for diagnosis of aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, and penicilliosis marneffei. The accuracy of the beta-glucan assay for diagnosis of aspergillosis and candidiasis and its role in fungal diagnosis remains unclear, in part because the few published studies report widely varying specificity. Serologic tests for antibodies are also useful for diagnosis of histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis, but their sensitivity may be reduced by immunosuppression. While molecular diagnostic methods have been described and are available at some reference and university laboratories, their role in patient care remains uncertain, largely because of the lack of well-characterized assays and studies establishing their accuracy. Culture methods, although essential for establishing the diagnosis in some cases, have limitations for rapid diagnosis, namely insensitivity, need for invasive procedures, and delayed growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Wheat
- MiraVista Diagnostics and Mirabella Technologies, 4444 Decatur Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46241, USA.
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