Application of the 1,3-β-d-Glucan (Fungitell) Assay in the Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Tuan Tran, Stacy G Beal

Abstract

With the high mortality rate associated with invasive fungal infections, methods for timely detection and diagnosis are necessary for appropriate and effective treatment. Testing for 1,3-β-d-glucan, a cell wall component of many medically important fungi, can be a useful adjunct in diagnosing such infections. The Fungitell assay (Associates of Cape Cod, East Falmouth, Massachusetts) is a US Food and Drug Administration-approved laboratory test that quantitatively measures 1,3-β-d-glucan levels and is widely available for clinical use as a relatively noninvasive method to aid in detecting the presence of invasive fungal infections. Numerous studies have evaluated its performance in clinical settings, and results have, overall, been favorable. It is not without its drawbacks, however, and the test must be interpreted and applied with care. Ordering practices are also widely variable among clinicians, and official guidelines have not been readily available. We present the details of this test and aim to propose evidence-based guidance for its use.

References

Oct 1, 1996·Clinical Microbiology Reviews·S K Fridkin, W R Jarvis
Oct 1, 1996·Cell Structure and Function·S B InoueY Ohya
Aug 7, 2001·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·M M McNeilD W Warnock
Apr 8, 2003·The Lancet Infectious Diseases·David W DenningUNKNOWN British Society for Medical Mycology
Aug 13, 2004·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Zekaver OdabasiLuis Ostrosky-Zeichner
Aug 5, 2005·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Luis Ostrosky-ZeichnerJohn H Rex
Dec 8, 2005·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·Jerry W PickeringGail L Woods
May 17, 2006·Medical Mycology·Zekaver OdabasiLuis Ostrosky-Zeichner
Jun 30, 2006·The New England Journal of Medicine·Monique A S H Mennink-KerstenPaul E Verweij
Aug 24, 2006·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Shaun M Bowman, Stephen J Free
Sep 21, 2006·Infectious Disease Clinics of North America·Monique A S H Mennink-Kersten, Paul E Verweij
Sep 29, 2006·Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·Francisco M MartyLindsey R Baden
May 9, 2008·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Taminori ObayashiNobuaki Funata
Mar 4, 2011·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Drosos E KarageorgopoulosMatthew E Falagas
Apr 12, 2011·European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·O AlbertI Villena
Mar 31, 2012·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·Charles R SimsLuis Ostrosky-Zeichner
Nov 9, 2012·American Journal of Health-system Pharmacy : AJHP : Official Journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists·Ruth-Ann Lee, Steven Gabardi
Feb 28, 2013·Pediatric Transplantation·Anne I DipchandJames K Kirklin
May 30, 2013·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Theresa HahnNavneet S Majhail
Jun 21, 2013·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·Frederic TissotUNKNOWN Fungal Infection Network of Switzerland (FUNGINOS)

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 26, 2018·Retina·Anton M KolomeyerBenjamin J Kim
May 4, 2018·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·Karl DichtlJohannes Wagener
Jun 1, 2018·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·Navaporn WorasilchaiAriya Chindamporn
Jun 19, 2018·Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine : Peer-reviewed, Official Publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine·Nitin BansalV Ramasubramanian
Apr 16, 2020·Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine·Bryan T KellyAndrew H Limper
Jul 22, 2020·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Sandra K WhiteKimberly E Hanson
Jul 30, 2020·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Barry W NeunMarina A Dobrovolskaia
May 25, 2021·Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·Cassie C KennedyRaymund R Razonable
Jun 3, 2021·Diagnostics·Victoria PoplinNathan C Bahr

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.