INTERFERENCE BY HYDROXYETHYL STARCH USED FOR VASCULAR FILLING IN LATEX AGGLUTINATION-TEST FOR CRYPTOCOCCAL ANTIGEN

The glucuronoxylomannan component of the Cryptococcus neoformans capsu lar polysaccharide confers serotype specificity, and its detection in cerebrospinal fluid or serum by the latex agglutination test is used f or diagnosis. Low-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starches can be used a s an alternative to albumin for vascular filling. This study reports t he occurrence of a false-positive result with the Pastorex Cryptococcu s test (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur, Marnes la Coquette, France) for a patient receiving hydroxyethyl starch characterized by a substitution ratio of 0.6 (Elohes, Biosedra, Sevres, France).