Specimen Requirements
Title
Cryptococcal, Antigen (Reflex to Titer)
Specimen Requirement
Draw blood in a plain red-top tube. Centrifuge, separate serum from cells within 1 hour of collection and send 2.0 mL serum (0.5 mL minimum) refrigerated in a screw-capped plastic vial.
Alternate Specimen: SST
Methodology
Latex Agglutination
Stability
Room Temperature Unacceptable; Refrigerated 7 days; Frozen 60 days
Reference Range
By Report*
Turnaround
2 days
Clinical Use
Aid in establishing the presence if Cryptococcus neoformans infection
Test Code
CRYAG