Coccidioidin or spherulin skin test
Key points
- Coccidioides is a fungus that causes coccidioidomycosis.
- The test site (an area with hair, usually the forearm) is cleansed.
- Infants and children: The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age, previous experiences, and level of trust.
- The test detects if the body's immune system responds to the fungus, indicating that the person has been exposed to this organism.
Definition
Coccidioides is a fungus that causes coccidioidomycosis. Coccidioidomycosis is common in the San Joaquin Valley of California and certain other areas in the southwestern U.S. Symptoms resemble pneumonia or pulmonary tuberculosis. There may be small, red, inflamed areas on the skin. This test detects exposure to this fungus.
Coccidioidin and spherulin are two different antigens and are both used to test for coccidioidomycosis. Spherulin may be a more sensitive test than coccidioidin.
How the test is performed
The test site (an area with hair, usually the forearm) is cleansed. The antigen is then injected just below the skin surface. The test is read at 24 hours and at 48 hours.
How to prepare for the test
Infants and children:
The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age, previous experiences, and level of trust. For general information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics:
- Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
- Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
- Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
- Schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
- Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)
How the test will feel
There will be a brief sting as a needle is inserted just below the skin's surface.
Why the test is performed
The test detects if the body's immune system responds to the fungus, indicating that the person has been exposed to this organism.
Normal Values
No reaction (inflammation) to the microorganism is normal.
What abnormal results mean
A positive reaction indicates there has been exposure to the microorganism. This test can be very helpful in diagnosing early infection, since the skin test can be positive 2 to 21 days after the onset of symptoms, even before serology is positive. A significant number of patients will have anergy, or will not respond to this test even when they have the disease.
There can be false-positives, in that there can be positive results when the patient has been exposed to histoplasma fungus or blastomyces fungus, but not coccidioides.
What the risks are
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.