Legionella sp antigen – bronchial washing
Last updated: Monday, 22, March, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | Bronchial brushing, washing, lung biopsy, sputum. |
| Method | DFA. |
| Application | Investigation of severe or unresponsive pneumonia. |
| Interpretation | The presence of fluorescent bacilli on microscopy supports the diagnosis of legionella pneumonia. The sensitivity and specificity of the test is low in sporadic pneumonia, but higher in epidemics. If available, detection of Legionella sp by nucleic acid detection after amplification (PCR) is the preferred test. See also Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen - urine. |
| Reference | Murdoch DR. Clin Infect Dis 2003; 36: 64-69. |