Comparison of two commercial tests (Immy vs. Dynamiker) for cryptococcal capsular antigen.

INTRODUCTION

Lateral flow assay is an advanced method useful in the early diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis. We aimed to compare two commercial tests for cryptococcal capsular antigen in the sera of asymptomatic patients with human immunodeficiency virus in Barranquilla, Colombia.

METHODS

Thawed (n=162) previously collected serums (2016-2019) were processed using IMMY and Dynamiker cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay.

RESULTS

Compared to IMMY's results, Dynamiker's sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and kappa index were 100%, 89.9%, 48.3%, 100.0%, and 0.61, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The Dynamiker test had excellent sensitivity, acceptable specificity, and a low detection threshold for cryptococcal antigen in the tested samples.