CSF coccidioides complement fixation looks for antibodies to the fungus Coccidioides immitis in the cerebrospinal (CSF) fluid, the fluid surrounding the brain and spine.

Coccidioides antibody test - spinal fluid

The complement fixation test looks to see if the body has produced antibodies to a certain antigen (a substance that causes an immune response in the body) -- in this case, the Coccidioides immitis fungus.

If the antibodies are present, they attach to the antigen. This combination activates, or "fixes" complement, and this activation can be measured. This is why the test is called "complement fixation."

The spinal fluid needed to perform this test is usually taken by lumbar puncture (spinal tap).

You must sign a consent form. You will need to stay in the hospital for about 8 hours afterwards, and you should lie flat.

See: Lumbar puncture

Complement fixation is one of several tests for the fungus Coccidioides immitis.

Images

Next Section

CSF coccidioides complement fixation Results

Review Date: 06/09/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)