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Aspergillus fumigatus (Allergen Specific IgE)

Aspergillus fumigatus

Test Codes

Antrim #30710, EPIC: LAB5561, SOFT: EASF

Department

Special Testing Allergens

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gold-top SST tube.

Twenty individual allergen assays or allergen screens can be performed on one 5 mL Gold-top SST tube. Each allergen assay requires 100 mcL of serum.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged collection tube within two hours of collection.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged collection tube, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Rejection Criteria

Plasma specimens.

Severely lipemic or hemolyzed specimens.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Room temperature is acceptable for a maximum of two hours.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-25°C or 68-77°F): 2 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 1 month

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Royal Oak Special Testing Laboratory

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available the next business day.

Reference Range

Allergy Reference Range: Less than 0.35 kU/L. 

Range (kU/L)	Class	Interpretation
Less than or equal to 0.34	0	Negative
0.35-0.69	1	Low
0.70-3.49	2	Medium
3.50-17.49	3	High
17.50-49.99	4	Very High
50.0-100.0	5	Very High
Greater than 100	6	Very High

Test Methodology

Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA).

Interpretation

The allergen class may not be predictive of clinical disease in some patients. The diagnosis of allergy should be based upon patient history and clinical findings. The diagnosis of allergy should not be based upon laboratory findings alone.

Clinical Utility

A positive test result (class 1 or greater) is indicative of the presence of allergen-specific IgE and suggests an increased likelihood of allergic disease.

Clinical Disease

The infectious spores of Aspergillus are present in indoor and outdoor environments. In one study, Aspergillus spores were found in 30% of homes in Michigan (1). The transmission mechanism of fungi, such as Aspergillus, is through spore inhalation. Upon inhalation of the spores, the allergic individual commonly develops symptoms of coughing, shortness of breath, and rarely, hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Asthma patients can develop bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), an allergic reaction involving lung infiltration. Symptoms of ABPA include low grade fever, expectoration of brown-flecked masses, and wheezing. Serum IgE (total) levels may not be increased in every case of acute allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (1).

Cheeses and other foods prepared with fungi may produce an allergic response or intensify an allergic reaction in patients with fungal allergies. Less often, consumption of dried fruits, mushrooms, soy sauce or vinegar may initiate an allergic response in patients with fungal allergies.

The highest concentrations of Aspergillus spores are seen from August through April in temperate climates (1).

Reference

1. Kaplan, Allen P. Allergy. Churchill Livingstone: New York. 1985. Pp. 300, 568.

CPT Codes

86003
LOINC: 6025-1, 30036-8, 15151-4, 6809-8

Contacts

Last Updated

2/1/2023