Coccidioidin or spherulin skin test

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Positive reaction to allergen

No reaction (inflammation) to the microorganism is normal.

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 2-21 days after the onset of symptoms, even before a blood test 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. A positive result may also reflect exposure to coccidioides in the distant past, rather than current infection.

Review Date: 02/10/2006
Reviewed By: Kenneth Wener, M.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.