Medical Health Encyclopedia

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

1 2 5 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X

Blood test

Overview Risks Results

CSF coccidioides complement fixation

Alternative Names: Coccidioides antibody test - spinal fluid What the risks are: Risks of lumbar puncture include: Hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to the anesthetic Discomfort during the test Headache after the test Bleeding into the spinal canal Brain herniation (if performed on a person with increased intracranial pressure ), resulting in brain damage and/or death Damage to the spinal cord (particularly if the person moves during the test) Special considerations: This test may also be done as a blood test. See also: Coccidioides complement fixation. Text Continues Below In the initial stage of an illness, few antibodies may be detected. Antibody production increases during the course of an infection. For this reason, such tests are often repeated several weeks after the first test is done. Note: While an abnormal result on the spinal fluid test specifically means that the central nervous system is infected, an abnormal result on the blood test does not pinpoint the exact area of infection. It only means that there is a Coccidioides infection somewhere in the body.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.