1-3 mL serum - OR - 1-3 mL BAL (bronc lavage) in sterile screw top tube

Lipemic, icteric, or hemolyzed specimens. Specimens that have been stored at ambient temperature. Specimens that have been stored at 2-8°C for >5 days. If storage longer than 5 days is needed, samples should be frozen at -70°C. Unless indicated as stored frozen, the specimen will be rejected if the draw date is >5 days from receipt at reference laboratory.

The reference range is an index of <0.5. Numerical index values will bereported. Patients with an index of ≥ 0.5 are considered to be positive for galactomannan antigen. Patients with an index of <0.5 are considered to be negative for galactomannan antigen. Specimens testing positive will be retested to confirm the positive result.

A negative test result cannot rule out the diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis. Patients at risk for Invasive Aspergillosis should be tested twice per week. If a positive result is obtained, a second specimen should be collected and sent for testing immediately. The performance of the Aspergillus Galactomannan EIA has not been evaluated with neonatal specimens. The Aspergillus Galactomannan EIA may exhibit reduced detection in patients with chronic granulomatous disease and Job's Syndrome. The concomitant use of mold-active, anti fungal therapy in some patients with Invasive Aspergillosis may result in reduced sensitivity of the Aspergillus Galactomannan EIA. There are reports in the literature of positive galactomannan test results in patients receiving piperacillin/tazobactam, therefore, results in these patients should be interpreted with caution and confirmed with other diagnostic methods. There are reports in the literature of positive galactomannan test results in patients with intestinal mucositis caused by chemotherapy and irradiation, which allows for extra absorption of dietary galactomannan.