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FungiFlex®
Pneumocystis jirovecii

A single-target test for cell-free DNA from Pneumocystis jirovecii, the cause of PCP in immunocompromised patients.

Sample type
Plasma
Turnaround
<24h
after sample receipt
Test Code
FPJ01
CPT Code
87798

Result Reported

Organism detected Included in those organisms
Pneumocystis jiroveciiP. jirovecii

Clinical Utility

A plasma cfDNA assay offers a rapid, noninvasive way to evaluate suspected Pneumocystis pneumonia (PJP) — without bronchoalveolar lavage or induced sputum.

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PJP), caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii, is a serious opportunistic fungal pneumonia that primarily affects immunocompromised patients, including transplant recipients, patients with hematologic malignancies, individuals living with HIV, and those receiving immunosuppressive therapies. Early diagnosis is critical because untreated PJP can be life-threatening, yet diagnosis often relies on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), induced sputum, or nonspecific laboratory findings. The FungiFlex® Pneumocystis jirovecii assay uses plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to provide a rapid, noninvasive approach for detecting Pneumocystis jirovecii from a simple blood sample, supporting the evaluation of patients with suspected PJP.

Specimen Instructions

Sample requirements

Container type
K2-EDTA (Purple Top)
Sample volume
>2 mL Plasma OR >5 mL Whole Blood
Preferred specimen
  • Whole Blood If received by the Zepto laboratory < 24 hours after collection
  • Plasma If received by the Zepto laboratory > 24 hours after collection

Sample stability

Sample type Temperature Stability
Whole Blood Ambient Up to 24 hours
Plasma Ambient Up to 96 hours
Frozen Plasma ≤ −20°C Up to 6 months

Storage & shipping

  • Store plasma at ambient temperature (4–25°C) for short-term holding.

  • Specimens must arrive at Zepto Life within 96 hours of blood draw when shipped at ambient temperature.

  • If shipment will be delayed beyond 96 hours, freeze plasma at ≤ −20°C and ship on dry ice.

  • Frozen specimens may be stored at ≤ −20°C for up to 6 months prior to shipment.

Note — if plasma is expected to reach the Zepto laboratory more than 96 hours after collection, freeze the sample and ship on dry ice.

How to order this test.

Requisition form & sendout instructions

Test requisition form (PDF) Sendout instructions — General (PDF) Sendout instructions — MINNESOTA (PDF)
Performed at our high-complexity CLIA-certified reference laboratory →
NOT FDA-CLEARED · THIS TEST WAS DEVELOPED AND ITS PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS DETERMINED BY ZEPTO LIFE TECHNOLOGY, IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH CLIA REQUIREMENTS.

References

01Young, J.A.H. et al. Extrapulmonary and Other Pneumocystis jirovecii Infections Diagnosed via Fungal Cell-Free DNA Using Giant Magnetoresistance Detection. Journal of Fungi, 2026. doi.org/10.3390/jof12060435
02Zepto Life Technology. A culture-free diagnostic approach for invasive fungal infections. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 2025. academic.oup.com/ofid
03cfDNA and GMR technology in Candida krusei fungemia monitoring. Journal of Fungi, 2024;10(7):449. doi.org/10.3390/jof10070449
04Vergidis, P. et al. Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infection Using a Cell-Free DNA Assay Coupled with GMR Lab-on-a-Chip Technology. Presented at ECCMID, 2024.
05Detection of Aspergillus fumigatus Cell-Free DNA Using Giant Magnetoresistance Technology. Presented at Advances Against Aspergillosis, 2024.