Fungitell® (1-3)-Beta-D-Glucan, BAL

Test Code
12348


CPT Codes
87449<br><strong>This test is not available for New York patient testing.</strong>

Preferred Specimen
1 mL bronchoalveolar lavage collected in a sterile screw-cap container


Minimum Volume
0.5 mL


Instructions
Collect specimen using a sterile glucan-free (DNAse, RNAse and pyrogen-free) tube


Transport Container
Glucan-free transport tube


Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)


Specimen Stability
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 5 days
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 7 days


Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Glass tubes


Methodology
Protease Zymogen-based Colorimetric Kinetic Assay

Setup Schedule
Set up: Daily; Report available: 1-2 days


Clinical Significance
This assay is used for the qualitative detection of (1-3)-beta-D-glucan, a fungal cell wall antigen, in patients suspected of invasive fungal infection. The serum levels of (1-3)-beta-D-glucan can be used to aid in diagnosing deep-seated mycoses and fungemia and should be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tests and clinical criteria.
This assay is generally used as a non-invasive test for patients with symptoms consistent with invasive fungal infection or with medical conditions that put them at higher risk of infection. Patients with hematologic malignancies, organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplants, or those receiving immunosuppressive therapy are at higher risk of invasive fungal infection.
This assay is a pan-fungal antigen test and therefore can detect (1-3)-beta-D-glucan from several pathogenic and opportunistic fungal pathogens, if it is present above the limit of detection. A positive result does not indicate infection with any specific genus or species of fungi. In addition, infection may not lead to elevated levels of (1-3)-beta-D-glucan in the serum. This assay does not detect (1-3)-beta-D-glucan from infections caused by Mucorales (eg Lichtheimia, Mucor, and Rhizopus), Blastomyces spp, or Cryptococcus spp.
False-positive results have been reported in patients using certain fractionated blood products, such as serum albumin and immunoglobulins, and in specimens exposed to glucan-containing gauze and surgical sponges.

References:
1. Fungitell Assay. Instructions for use.
2. CLSI M53 2nd edition
3. Lamoth, F. et al. Assessment of the Role of 1,3-β-d-Glucan Testing for the Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections in Adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Mar 12;72(Suppl 2):S102-S108. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1943.


Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153



The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.