The list of medical tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Histoplasmosis includes:
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A history of exposure to contaminated soil in an endemic area, miliary calcification in the lung or spleen, a positive histoplasmin skin test or urine antigen test indicate exposure to histoplasmosis. Rising complement fixation and agglutination titers (more than 1:32) strongly suggest histoplasmosis. A histoplasmosis antigen assay test can help in diagnosis.
CONFIRMING DIAGNOSIS The diagnosis of histoplasmosis requires a morphologic examination of tissue biopsy and culture of H. capsulatum from sputum in acute primary and chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis and from bone marrow, lymph node, blood, and infection sites in disseminated histoplasmosis. However, cultures take several weeks to grow these organisms. Faster diagnosis is possible with stained biopsies. Also available is a deoxyribonucleic acid probe for histoplasma that can be used for difficult isolates.
Findings must rule out tuberculosis and other diseases that produce similar symptoms. The diagnosis of histoplasmosis caused by H. duboisii necessitates examination of tissue biopsy and culture of the affected site.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
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