Coccidioides complement fixation is a blood test that looks for antibodies to the fungus Coccidioides immitis. This fungus causes the disease coccidioidomycosis.
Alternative NamesCoccidioides antibody test
How the test is performedBlood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects in a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.
The complement fixation test looks at the clear liquid portion of the blood, called serum, to see if the body has produced antibodies to a specific antigen -- in this case Coccidioides immitis. If the antibodies are present, they stick, or "fix" themselves to the antigen. That is why the test is called "fixation."
How to prepare for the testThere is no special preparation for the test.
How the test will feelWhen the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performedThis test is used to detect infection with the fungus that causes coccidioidomycosis. This condition can cause lung or widespread (disseminated) infection.
Normal ValuesNo Coccidioides immitis antibodies are detected.
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What abnormal results meanAbnormal results mean that Coccidioides immitisantibodies are present. This can mean that you have a current or past infection.
The test may be repeated after several weeks to detect a rise in titer (antibody concentration), which confirms an active infection.
In general, the worse the infection, the higher the titer, except in people with a weakened immune system.
There can be false positive tests in patients with other fungal diseases such as histoplasmosis and blastomycosis, and false negative tests in people with single lung masses from coccidioidomycosis.
What the risks areVeins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
Galgiani JN. Coccidioidomycosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 354.
Laboratory tests. a complement fixation (CF) test is based on.if antibodies are formed in the body in response to the illness, then the antigen and the antibody will form complexes.The serum complement fixation.confirms the presence of antibodies.
Laboratory tests. a complement fixation (CF) test is based on.if antibodies are formed in the body in response to the illness, then the antigen and the antibody will form complexes.The serum complement fixation.confirms the presence of antibodies.
The CFT full form of civil work is Complement Fixation Test.
Yes
Complement-fixation Test
For a complement fixation test, you will need serum samples from the patient being tested, heat-inactivated complement serum, specific antigen-antibody complexes, an indicator system to visualize complement activity, saline or buffer solutions, and control samples. The test is used to detect the presence of specific antibodies in the patient's serum by measuring the level of complement fixation.
Complement Fixation
complement fixation
complement fixation and activation of the antibody
The principle of complement-fixation test involves the detection of antibodies by measuring the ability of a patient's serum to fix and consume complement in the presence of a specific antigen. If antibodies are present in the sample, they will fix complement, leading to a decrease in complement activity that can be detected. This test is often used to diagnose infections such as syphilis and certain viral diseases.
Opsonization Chemotaxis
DefinitionCSF coccidioides complement fixation looks for antibodies to the fungus Coccidioides immitis in the cerebrospinal (CSF) fluid, the fluid surrounding the brain and spine.Alternative NamesCoccidioides antibody test - spinal fluidHow the test is performedComplementfixation is a specific laboratory technique that looks to see if the body has produced antibodies to a specific foreign substance (antigen) -- in this case Coccidioides immitis. If the antibodies are present, they stick, or "fix" themselves, to the antigen. That's why the test is called "fixation."The spinal fluid needed to perform this test is usually obtained by lumbar puncture(spinal tap).How to prepare for the testA consent form must be signed. You will need to remain in the hospital for about 8 hours afterwards, and you should remain lying flat.How the test will feelSee: Lumbar punctureWhy the test is performedComplement fixation is the most sensitive test for the fungus Coccidioides immitis.Normal ValuesThe absence of fungus (a negative test) is normal.What abnormal results meanIf the test is positive for fungus, the results indicate an active infection in the central nervous system. (See: Disseminated coccidioidomycosis ).What the risks areSee: Lumbar punctureSpecial considerationsIn some cases, this test may be done as a blood test. See also: Coccidioides complement fixation.In the initial stage of an illness, few antibodies may be detected. Antibody production increases during the course of an infection. For this reason, such tests are often repeated several weeks after the first test is done.Note: While an abnormal result on the spinal fluid test specifically 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.ReferencesGalgiani JN. Coccidioidomycosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 354.