Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (1,3)β-D-Glucan for the Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections in Solid Organ Transplantation

Abstract

The accuracy of the (1,3)β-D-glucan test is marginal so that its utility as a clinical test for early diagnosis of IFI is questionable in the lung transplant population. Although the high negative predictive value of the Fungitell assay in both, BALs and sera, may support exclusion of pulmonary IFI in solid-organ transplantation patients, the low positive predictive value limits its utility as a screening tool for early diagnosis of IFI.