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Diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) generally requires direct visualization of organisms in respiratory secretions acquired by sputum induction or bronchoscopy. However, blood testing for β-d-glucan — a component of the cell wall of many fungi, including P. jirovecii — is gaining ground as a noninvasive alternative diagnostic tool.
Investigators in Japan used the Fungitec G MK test (Seikagaku) to compare serum β-glucan levels between 111 HIV-infected patients who had PCP confirmed by bronchoscopy and 425 HIV-infected patients who did not have PCP. Median serum levels of β-glucan were found to be significantly higher in patients with PCP than in those without (174.8 vs. 8.2 pg/mL). The calculated sensitivity of β-glucan testin…