Test Catalog

Test Id : BLAST

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Blastomyces Antibody, Enzyme Immunoassay, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Aiding in the diagnosis of blastomycosis

Reflex Tests
Lists tests that may or may not be performed, at an additional charge, depending on the result and interpretation of the initial tests.

Test Id Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
SBL Blastomyces Ab, Immunodiffusion, S Yes, (SBL) No

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

If result is equivocal or positive, Blastomyces antibody by immunodiffusion will be performed at an additional charge.

 

For more information see Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel Algorithm.

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Blastomyces Ab, EIA, S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Blastomycosis

Fungal Serology

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

If result is equivocal or positive, Blastomyces antibody by immunodiffusion will be performed at an additional charge.

 

For more information see Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel Algorithm.

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

0.8 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Heat inactivated specimen Reject

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
Frozen 14 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Aiding in the diagnosis of blastomycosis

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

If result is equivocal or positive, Blastomyces antibody by immunodiffusion will be performed at an additional charge.

 

For more information see Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel Algorithm.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Blastomyces dermatitidis, a dimorphic fungus, is endemic throughout the Midwestern, South-central, and Southeastern Unites States, particularly in regions around the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys, the Great Lakes, and the Saint Lawrence River. It is also found in regions of Canada. Blastomyces is an environmental fungus, preferring moist soil and decomposing organic matter, which produces fungal spores that are released and inhaled by animals or humans. At body temperature, the spores mature into yeast, which can stay in the lungs or disseminate through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Recently, through phylogenetic analysis, B dermatitidis has been separated into 2 distinct species; B dermatitidis and Blastomyces gilchristii, both able to cause blastomycosis in infected patients. Interestingly, B dermatitidis infections are associated more frequently with dissemination, particularly in older adults, individuals who smoke, and those who are immunocompromised, while B gilchristii has primarily been associated with pulmonary and constitutional symptoms.

 

Approximately 50% of patients infected with Blastomyces will develop symptoms, which are frequently nonspecific and include fever, cough, night sweats, myalgia or arthralgia, weight loss, chest pain and fatigue. Typically, symptoms appear anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months following infection.

 

Diagnosis of blastomycosis relies on a combination of assays, including culture and molecular testing on appropriate specimens and serologic evaluation for both antibodies to and antigen released from Blastomyces. Although culture remains the gold standard method and is highly specific, the organism can take several days to weeks to grow, and sensitivity is diminished in cases of acute or localized disease. Similarly, molecular testing offers high specificity and a rapid turnaround time, however, sensitivity is imperfect. Detection of an antibody response to Blastomyces offers high specificity, however, results may be falsely negative in acutely infected patients and in patients who are immunosuppressed.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Negative

Reference values apply to all ages.

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

A positive result indicates that IgG and/or IgM antibodies to Blastomyces were detected. The presence of antibodies is presumptive evidence that the patient was or is currently infected with (or was exposed to) Blastomyces.

 

A negative result indicates that antibodies to Blastomyces were not detected. The absence of antibodies is presumptive evidence that the patient was not infected with Blastomyces. However, the specimen may have been obtained before antibodies were detectable or the patient may be immunosuppressed. If infection is suspected, another specimen should be collected 7 to 14 days later and submitted for testing.

 

Specimens testing positive or equivocal will be submitted for further testing by another conventional serologic test (eg, SBL / Blastomyces Antibody by Immunodiffusion, Serum).

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

A negative result does not rule out blastomycosis.

 

Cross-reactivity may occur with other fungal infections, such as Aspergillus, Coccidioides, or Histoplasma.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Kaufman L, Kovacs JA, Reiss E: Clinical immunomycology. In: Rose NR, De Macario EC, Folds JD, et al, eds. Manual of Clinical and Laboratory Immunology. ASM Press; 1997:588-589

2. O'Dowd TR, Mc Hugh JW, Theel ES, et al: Diagnostic methods and risk factors for severe disease and mortality in Blastomycosis: A retrospective cohort study. J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Oct 20;7(11):888. doi: 10.3390/jof7110888

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The Omega Blastomyces Total Antibody EIA (enzyme immunoassay) uses microwells coated with purified Blastomyces yeast-phase antigen. Patient specimen is diluted in buffer and incubated in the coated microwell. If present, IgG and IgM antibodies bind to the antigen. The microwells are washed to remove unbound serum components. A secondary antibody, rabbit anti-human IgG and IgM antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, is added to the microwell and incubated. The secondary antibody will bind to the antibody-antigen complexes. The microwells are washed to remove unbound conjugate. Substrate solution containing urea peroxide and tetramethylbenzidine is added to the microwells, causing a color change. After a final incubation period, a stop solution is added to the microwells, and the color change is quantified by measuring the optical density (OD). Specimen OD readings are compared to calibrator cutoff OD readings to determine results.(Package insert: Omega Blastomyces Total Antibody EIA. Immuno-Mycologics, Inc; Revision 01/24/2018)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

1 to 3 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees :
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

86612

86612 (if applicable)

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
BLAST Blastomyces Ab, EIA, S 7816-2
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
BLAST Blastomyces Ab, EIA, S 7816-2

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports

Test Update Resources

Change Type Effective Date
Test Status - Test Resumed 2023-03-17