Specimen Requirements

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Stability

Days Performed

Tue, Fri

Turnaround Time

4 - 6 days

Methodology

Clinical Info

For patients who have both precipitating antibody specific for bird antigens and the symptoms and the clinical findings for pneumonitis, a diagnosis of bird fancier's lung disease may be appropriate. It is important to recognize that a positive serology alone cannot be used to establish the diagnosis of HP or Bird Fancier's Lung without the appropriate clinical findings and exposure history. In patients who lack the symptoms of HP but who have precipitating antibody (usually IgG) the serology can be taken to document significant exposure to bird antigens. Although the gel diffusion methods may be less sensitive than new methods, such as the ELISA tests for these bird antigens, it may be more specific.