- histoplasmin
- An antigenic extract of Histoplasma capsulatum, used in immunological tests for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis; also used in skin test surveys of populations to determine the geographic distribution of the fungus and to predict those that are endemic for histoplasmosis.
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his·to·plas·min -'plaz-mən n a sterile filtrate of a culture of a fungus of the genus Histoplasma (H. capsulatum) used in a cutaneous test for histoplasmosis* * *
n.a preparation of antigenic material from a culture of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, used to test for the presence of the disease histoplasmosis by subcutaneous injection.* * *
his·to·plas·min (his″to-plazґmin) [USP] a skin test antigen prepared from mycelial phase Histoplasma capsulatum organisms. Because positive skin tests are common in endemic areas and indicate only previous exposure, not necessarily active disease, histoplasmin is not useful in diagnosis of histoplasmosis. It is used primarily in epidemiologic surveys and in testing for cutaneous anergy in diagnosis of immunodeficiency.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
