Clinical Information

Coccidioidomycosis is caused by the dimorphic fungi, Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. These organisms are endemic to the southwestern regions of the United States, northern Mexico, and areas of Central and South America, with recent literature suggests the geographic area of endemicity may be expanding over time.

The gold standard for the diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis is culture of the organism from clinical specimens due to its high sensitivity. However, growth in culture may take up to several weeks, which can delay diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the propagation of Coccidioides species in the clinical laboratory is a significant safety hazard to laboratory personnel.

This polymerase chain reaction method can identify Coccidioides species directly from clinical specimens, allowing for a rapid diagnosis, and should be used in conjunction with culture. For specimen types such as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, culture is not possible, but the molecular test may provide useful information.