Bronchoalveolar lavage: Cryptococcus gattii – Shipped January 2012
HISTORY
This sample was sent as a simulated bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Laboratories were expected to isolate and identify Cryptococcus gattii.
MAIN EDUCATIONAL POINTS from 1201-1
- There are two predominant species that are pathogenic to humans: Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii. Differentiation between these two species is usually difficult for regular laboratories and specialized agar and/or molecular methods must be utilized.
CMPT is a program of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. Canada.