Eurofins Biomnis code

ASIEP

Synonyms

• Aspergillus flavus
• Aspergillus fumigatus
• Aspergillus nidulans
• Aspergillus niger
• Aspergillus versicolor
• [To be translated]

Specialty

Infectious

Clinical significance

Aspergillus is a genus of mycelial fungi, some members of which can either establish an opportunistic infection or induce an allergic reaction in humans. They can penetrate the bronchopulmonary network, the auditory canal or colonise the skin and nails and cause granulomatous lesions. Invasion is favoured, on the one hand, by the presence of preexisting lesions (e.g. tuberculous cavitations or burns) but, to a far greater extent, by impaired immune responsiveness. In profoundly immunosuppressed patients, such infections can rapidly become massively invasive and catastrophic. Although strains can be identified by preparing specimens regularly for culture on selective media, the exact role played by the identified species in the disease process cannot be defined unless it is identified in the actual lesion or the relevant biological fluid. Assaying for circulating antigen can be useful for rapid diagnosis in profoundly immunosuppressed patients. Serological analysis can be worthwhile in immune competent subjects suspected of having a systemic Aspergillus infection although seroconversion is usually relatively late.

Preanalytics

• 2 mL :
• serum (do not use 10 mL tube)
•   Reftrigerated

• A tube specifically for this analysis : No

Further information

Be careful, confirmation of aspergillary serology is not to be performed as a first-line treatment
It should be performed in the event of a positive or equivocal result of an aspergillary serology screening

Methodology

Western-Blot

Turnaround time

3 days