CSF coccidioides complement fixation

Alternative Names: Coccidioides antibody test - spinal fluid

CSF coccidioides complement fixation looks for antibodies to the fungus Coccidioides immitis in the cerebrospinal (CSF) fluid, the fluid surrounding the brain and spine.

Why is the Test Performed?

Complement fixation is one of several tests for the fungus Coccidioides immitis.

How is the Test Performed?

The complement fixation test looks to see if the body has produced antibodies to a certain antigen (a substance that causes an immune response in the body) -- in this case, the Coccidioides immitis fungus.

If the antibodies are present, they attach to the antigen. This combination activates, or "fixes" complement, and this activation can be measured. This is why the test is called "complement fixation."

The spinal fluid needed to perform this test is usually taken by lumbar puncture (spinal tap).

Preparation for the Test

You must sign a consent form. You will need to stay in the hospital for about 8 hours afterwards, and you should lie flat.

How will the Test Feel?

See: Lumbar puncture

CSF coccidioides complement fixation Risks

See: Lumbar puncture

Considerations

In some cases, this test may be done as a blood test. See also: Coccidioides complement fixation

In the first stage of an illness, few antibodies may be detected. Antibody production increases during the course of an infection. For this reason, tests are often repeated several weeks after the first test is done.

Note: While an abnormal result on the spinal fluid test means that the central nervous system is infected, an abnormal result on the blood test does not pinpoint the exact area of infection. It only means that there is a coccidioides infection somewhere in the body.

Normal Results for CSF coccidioides complement fixation

The absence of fungus (a negative test) is normal.

What Abnormal Results Mean

If the test is positive for fungus, there may be an active infection in the central nervous system. See: Disseminated coccidioidomycosis

Blood test

Review Date: 6/9/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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