Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) are commonly used as an initial diagnostic assay to detect cryptococcal antigen in serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Recently, the introduction of a newly developed Food and Drug Administration–approved
lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) (Immuno-Mycologics [IMMY], Norman,OK, USA) offers a rapid and easy alternative detection platform (Lindsley et al., 2011).
The LFA assay detects glucuronoxylomannan(GXM), themajor polysaccharide component of the cryptococcal capsule.