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Aerts R, Cuypers L, Mercier T, Maertens J, Lagrou K. Implementation of Lateral Flow Assays for the Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis in European Hospitals: A Survey from Belgium and a Literature Review of Test Performances in Different Patient Populations. Mycopathologia 2023; 188:655-665. [PMID: 37209228 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-023-00739-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis is based on a combination of criteria, of which the detection of Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) often is decisive. To date, the most commonly used method to determine GM is an enzyme-linked immune assay (EIA). But since a few years lateral flow assays (LFAs) were introduced, providing the possibility for rapid single sample testing. More and more LFAs are entering the market, but, although often being equated, all use their own antibodies, procedures and interpretation criteria. A recent European survey revealed that about 24-33% of laboratories implemented a lateral flow assay on-site. METHODS We conducted a survey at 81 Belgian hospital laboratories regarding the implementation of LFAs in their centre. In addition, we performed an extensive review of all publicly available studies on the performance of lateral flow assays to diagnose invasive aspergillosis. RESULTS Response rate to the survey was 69%. Of the 56 responding hospital laboratories, 6 (11%) used an LFA. The Soña Aspergillus galactomannan LFA (IMMY, Norman, Oklahoma, USA) was used in 4/6 centres, while two centres used the QuicGM (Dynamiker, Tianjin, China) and one centre used the FungiXpert Aspergillus Galactomannan Detection K-set LFA (Genobio [Era Biology Technology], Tianjin, China). One centre used 2 distinct LFAs. In 3/6 centres, the sample is sent to another lab for confirmation with GM-EIA when the LFA result is positive and in 2/6 when the LFA results is negative. In one centre, a confirmatory GM-EIA is always performed in house. In three centres the LFA result is used as a complete substitute for GM-EIA. Available LFA performance studies are very diverse and results vary in function of the study population and type of LFA. Apart from the IMMY and OLM LFA, only very limited performance data are available. From two out of three LFAs used in Belgium, no clinical performance studies are published in literature. CONCLUSIONS A large variety of LFAs are used in Belgian Hospitals, some of which no clinical validation studies are published. These results do likely have implications for other parts of Europe and for the rest of the world as well. Due to the variable performance of LFA tests and the limited validation data available, each laboratory must check the available performance information of the specific test considered for implementation. In addition, laboratories should perform an implementation verification study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robina Aerts
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lize Cuypers
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center for Mycosis, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Toine Mercier
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Haematology, General Hospital Sint-Maarten, Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Johan Maertens
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Haematology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center for Mycosis, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Lian X, Scott-Thomas A, Lewis JG, Bhatia M, MacPherson SA, Zeng Y, Chambers ST. Monoclonal Antibodies and Invasive Aspergillosis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105563. [PMID: 35628374 PMCID: PMC9146623 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a life-threatening fungal disease that causes high morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of IA remain challenging. Given the broad range of non-specific clinical symptoms and the shortcomings of current diagnostic techniques, most patients are either diagnosed as “possible” or “probable” cases but not “proven”. Moreover, because of the lack of sensitive and specific tests, many high-risk patients receive an empirical therapy or a prolonged treatment of high-priced antifungal agents, leading to unnecessary adverse effects and a high risk of drug resistance. More precise diagnostic techniques alongside a targeted antifungal treatment are fundamental requirements for reducing the morbidity and mortality of IA. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with high specificity in targeting the corresponding antigen(s) may have the potential to improve diagnostic tests and form the basis for novel IA treatments. This review summarizes the up-to-date application of mAb-based approaches in assisting IA diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xihua Lian
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Clinical Medical School of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Amy Scott-Thomas
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
| | - John G. Lewis
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
- Steroid and Immunobiochemistry Laboratory, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Madhav Bhatia
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
| | - Sean A. MacPherson
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
- Haematology Department, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
| | - Yiming Zeng
- Department of Internal Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine), The Second Clinical Medical School of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China;
| | - Stephen T. Chambers
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; (X.L.); (A.S.-T.); (J.G.L.); (M.B.); (S.A.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +64-3-364-0649
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Comparison of a novel lateral-flow device to galactomannan assay at different time periods for detections of invasive aspergillosis. J Formos Med Assoc 2022; 121:2123-2129. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Lass-Flörl C, Samardzic E, Knoll M. Serology anno 2021-fungal infections: from invasive to chronic. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021; 27:1230-1241. [PMID: 33601011 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnosing invasive or chronic fungal infections is a challenge, particularly in the immunocompromised host. Microscopy and culture remain the reference standard, but are insensitive. The use of non-culture-based techniques is recommended in conjunction with conventional methods to improve the diagnostic yield. OBJECTIVES The aim was to provide an updated 2021 inventory of fungal antigen and serology tests for diagnosing invasive and chronic fungal infections, the key focus was set on Aspergillus, Candida and Cryptococcus species. SOURCES Pubmed search for publications with the key words fungal antigen tests, laboratory-based diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, invasive candidiasis, invasive fungal infections and cryptococcal infections published from 2017 to 2020. CONTENT Antigen assays such as the galactomannan (GM) and β-d-glucan detection systems are frequently used, but these tests vary in sensitivity and specificity, depending on the patient population involved, specimens inspected, cut-offs defined, test strategy applied and inclusion or exclusion of possible fungal case definitions. Multiple different detection systems are available, with recently introduced new point-of-care tests such as the lateral flow device and the lateral flow assay. Despite a wide heterogeneity in populations evaluated, studies indicate a better diagnostic performance of bronchoalveolar lavage GM in comparison with serum GM, and a suboptimal specificity of GM bronchoalveolar lavages (cut-off ≥1) and serum β-d-glucan in non-neutropenic individuals. Point-of-care cryptococcal antigen tests show excellent performance. IMPLICATIONS There are fungal antigen detection tests available with excellent to reasonable clinical performance to diagnose invasive fungal infections. Only a few assays are useful to monitor therapeutic response. There are multiple marketed IgG antibody tests to detect Aspergillus fumigatus antibodies, the titres vary widely and the performance differs significantly. In general, diagnostic tests are vulnerable to being affected by the host, the microbe and laboratory setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Eldina Samardzic
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Miriam Knoll
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
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Mikulska M, Furfaro E, Bassetti M. The importance of quantitative results of lateral flow Aspergillus assay - the significant impact on the specificity. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 73:e1783-e1784. [PMID: 33125462 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Mikulska
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Division of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisa Furfaro
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Matteo Bassetti
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Division of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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Scharmann U, Verhasselt HL, Kirchhoff L, Buer J, Rath PM, Steinmann J, Ziegler K. Evaluation of two lateral flow assays in BAL fluids for the detection of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: A retrospective two-centre study. Mycoses 2020; 63:1362-1367. [PMID: 32885514 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Commonly, the application of radiological and clinical criteria and the determination of galactomannan (GM) in respiratory samples are used as a diagnostic tool for the detection of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). MATERIALS/METHODS In this study, two lateral flow assays, OLM Aspergillus lateral flow device (LFD) and IMMY sōna Aspergillus Galactomannan lateral flow assay (LFA), were evaluated at two tertiary hospitals in Germany. A total of 200 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from patients with suspicion of IPA were analysed retrospectively. LFD and LFA were evaluated against four different criteria: Blot, EORTC/MSG, Schauwvlieghe and extended Blot criteria and additionally against GM. RESULTS The evaluation of four algorithms for the diagnosis of IPA showed that there exist good diagnostic tools to rule out an IPA even before results of Aspergillus culture are available. Sensitivities and negative predictive values are generally higher for the LFA than for the LFD in all four criteria. Specificity and positive predictive values varied depending on the classification criteria. The total agreement between the GM and the LFA cube reader (cut-off = 1) was 84%. The correlation between the GM and LFA was calculated with r = 0.8. CONCLUSION The here presented data indicate that a negative LFA result in BAL fluid can reliable rule out an IPA in a heterogeneous group of ICU patients based on the original Blot criteria. LFA seems to be a promising immunochromatographic test exhibiting a good agreement with positive GM values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Scharmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Hedda Luise Verhasselt
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lisa Kirchhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jan Buer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Peter-Michael Rath
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Joerg Steinmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Infectiology, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Ziegler
- Institute of Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Infectiology, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
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Jenks JD, Hoenigl M. Point-of-care diagnostics for invasive aspergillosis: nearing the finish line. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2020; 20:1009-1017. [PMID: 32902359 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2020.1820864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The spectrum of disease caused by Aspergillus spp. is dependent on the immune system of the host, with invasive aspergillosis (IA) its most severe manifestation. Early and reliable diagnosis of Aspergillus disease is important to decrease associated morbidity and mortality from IA. AREAS COVERED The following review searched Pub Med for literature published since 2007 and will give an update on the current point-of-care diagnostic strategies for the diagnosis of IA, discuss needed areas of improvement for these tests, and future directions. EXPERT OPINION Several new diagnostic tests for IA - including point-of-care tests - are now available to complement conventional galactomannan (GM) testing. In particular, the Aspergillus-specific Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test and the sōna Aspergillus GM Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) are promising for the diagnosis of IA in patients with hematologic malignancy, although further evaluation in the non-hematology setting is needed. In addition, a true point-of-care test, particularly for easily obtained specimens like serum or urine that can be done at the bedside or in the Clinic in a matter of minutes is needed, such as the lateral flow dipstick test, which is under current evaluation. Lastly, improved diagnostic algorithms to diagnose IA in non-neutropenic patients is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Jenks
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego , La Jolla, CA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego , La Jolla, CA, USA.,Clinical and Translational Fungal - Working Group, University of California San Diego , La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Martin Hoenigl
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego , La Jolla, CA, USA.,Clinical and Translational Fungal - Working Group, University of California San Diego , La Jolla, CA, USA.,Division of Pulmonology and Section of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Graz , Graz, Austria
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