Comparison of four assays for the detection of cryptococcal antigen.

We compared the performance of four assays for the detection of cryptococcal antigen in serum samples (n = 634) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (n = 51). Compared to latex agglutination, the sensitivity and specificity of the Premier enzyme immunoassay (EIA), Alpha CrAg EIA, and CrAg lateral flow assay (LFA) were 55.6 and 100%, 100 and 99.7%, and 100 and 99.8%, respectively, from serum samples. There was 100% agreement among the four tests for CSF samples, with 18 samples testing positive by each of the assays.