**2. Antigen detection**

The antigen test for histoplasmosis in urine and serum was first developed in 1986 [3], and become an important method for the diagnosis of Histoplasmosis revolutionizing the diagnosis of this disease. The antigen released by the fungal cells can be detected in biological samples: urine, serum, CSF, BAL. Urine antigen detection tests are more sensitive than serum detection tests, results are available within a few hours, they have high sensitivity and specificity, and good negative predictive value.

The first test was a solid-phase radioimmunoassay with the detection of circulating polysaccharide *H*. *capsulatum* antigen, which was performed after 1989 as an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) [4], with the same sensitivity and specificity but simpler to use.


## *Histoplasmosis: Laboratory Diagnosis DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.112411*


**Table 1.** *Summary of laboratory diagnostic tools.*

