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Sputum DFA (direct fluorescent antibody)
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| Definition: |
A test performed to detect the presence of microorganisms in sputum by using antibodies tagged with a fluorescent dye.
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| Alternative Names: |
Direct immunofluoresence test
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| How the test is performed: |
| A sputum sample is obtained by coughing into a specimen container. In the laboratory, antibodies that have been chemically linked to a fluorescent dye are added to the sample. The "flagged" antibodies will bind to the specific antigens (in this case, the microorganism against which they were formed). The specific microorganism (antigen) is indirectly identified by the presence of fluorescence when examined under a special microscope. |
| How to prepare for the test: |
| Obtain a coughed sputum specimen. If there is not a productive cough, a respiratory treatment may produce a sample. |
| How the test will feel: |
| There is no discomfort. |
| Why the test is performed: |
| This test may be performed when certain types of pulmonary infections or pneumonias are suspected. |
| Normal Values: |
| No antigen-antibody reaction observed is normal. |
| What abnormal results mean: |
| Abnormal results may indicate a specific infection depending on the antigens tested. Legionella or Mycoplasma pneumonia are 2 infections that can be determined by this test. |
| What the risks are: |
| There are no risks. |
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Review Date: 11/19/2001
Reviewed By: Michael C. Milone, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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