Histoplasma skin test
Definition
Histoplasma skin test is a method to check if you have been exposed to a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum. The fungus causes an infection called histoplasmosis.
Why the Test is Performed
This test is used to determine if a person has been exposed to the fungus that causes histoplasmosis.
How the Test is Performed
The health care provider will clean an area of your skin, usually the forearm. An allergen is injected just below the cleaned skin surface. The injection site is checked at 24 hours and at 48 hours for signs of a reaction. Occasionally, the reaction may not appear until the fourth day.
How to Prepare for the Test
No special preparation is necessary for this test.
How the Test Will Feel
There will be a brief sting as a needle is inserted just below the skin surface.
Risks
There is a slight risk of anaphylactic shock (a severe reaction).
Considerations
This test is rarely used today. It has been replaced by a variety of blood and urine tests.
Normal Results
No reaction (inflammation) at the site of the test is normal. Of note, the skin test can sometimes make histoplasmosis antibody tests turn positive.
What Abnormal Results Mean
A reaction means you have been exposed to Histoplasma capsulatum.
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
