Charcoal Particle Agglutination Test for Detection of Antibody to<i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Specially prepared charcoal particles readily adsorb cryptococcal polysaccharide antigen to form a stable reagent that is agglutinated by anticryptococcal serum in a rapid slide agglutination test. Card charcoal agglutination (CCA) is a valuable diagnostic aid, providing a rapid and reliable indication of cryptococcal infection in cases in which the slide latex agglutination test for antigen is negative.