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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffValley fever isn't diagnosed on the basis of signs and symptoms, which are usually vague and nonspecific, or on a chest X-ray, which can't distinguish valley fever from other lung diseases. Instead, a definitive diagnosis depends on finding Coccidioides spherules (cysts) in tissue, blood or other body secretions. For that reason, you're likely to have one or more of the following tests:
- Sputum smear or culture. These tests check a sample of your sputum for the presence of coccidioides organisms.
- Blood tests. Through a blood test, your doctor can check for antibodies against the fungus that causes valley fever.
- Coccidiodomycosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/coccidioidomycosis_t.htm. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Galgiani JN. Primary coccidioidal infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Galgiani JN, et al. Management of pulmonary sequelae and complications of coccidioidomycosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Coccidioidomycosis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch180/ch180f.html. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Coccidioidomycosis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/178982054-6/0/2088/150.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00012-5--sc0190. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
- Ampel NM. Coccidioidomycosis: A review of recent advances. Clinics in Chest Medicine. 2009;30:241.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. January 26, 2010.
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