Invasive aspergillosis is often lethal in lung transplant patients, and early diagnosis and treatment improve survival. Luong M et al showed that testing bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with new rapid-result Aspergillus PCR and galactomannan tests bring both sensitivity and specificity into the 93-100% range. 150 BAL samples from lung transplant patients at Pitt were tested (there were only 5 proven cases of invasive aspergillosis; 11 probable; and 26 with colonization). The two tests are complementary in their yields; authors propose cut-off values to try to differentiate invasive disease from colonization.
Rapid tests for aspergillus in BAL
Rapid tests for aspergillus in BAL
Rapid tests for aspergillus in BAL
Invasive aspergillosis is often lethal in lung transplant patients, and early diagnosis and treatment improve survival. Luong M et al showed that testing bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with new rapid-result Aspergillus PCR and galactomannan tests bring both sensitivity and specificity into the 93-100% range. 150 BAL samples from lung transplant patients at Pitt were tested (there were only 5 proven cases of invasive aspergillosis; 11 probable; and 26 with colonization). The two tests are complementary in their yields; authors propose cut-off values to try to differentiate invasive disease from colonization.
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