Value of the serum(1,3)-β-D-glucan assay in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infection

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of the serum(1,3)-β-D-glucan assay in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infection.Methods: The serum levels of(1,3)-β-D-glucan in 1 100 patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results: The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the(1,3)-β-D-glucan assay were 78.0%,89.9%,74.8% and 91.4%,respectively,the difference between the result of fungal G test and clinical diagnosis was statistically significant(χ²=491.25,P<0.01).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of fungal culture were 48.9%,92.3%,71.0% and 82.5%,respectively,the difference between the result of fungal G test and clinical diagnosis was statistically significant(χ²=239.34,P<0.01).Conclusions: The(1,3)-β-D-glucan assay is rapid and high negative predictive value.The conventional fungal culture is long time consuming,high specificity and susceptibility to contamination.The fungal G test combined with fungal culture can improve the sensitivity and specificity of the clinical diagnosis in suspect invasive fungal infection.