Ficin-Treated Red Cells Help Identify Clinically Significant Alloantibodies Masked as Reactions of Undetermined Specificity in Gel Microtubes.

Non-specific antibodies or antibodies of undetermined significance (AUS) often pose problems for a blood bank technologist and physician. It is well known that antibodies can weaken and evanesce over time, thus eluding detection by routine blood bank techniques. Special enhancement techniques exist (eg, ficin treatment); however, they are often underutilized due to concerns over expense.

Vulvar histoplasmosis as a rare cause of genital ulceration.

Background: Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum and primarily presents with pulmonary symptoms. Immunocompromised individuals are at high risk for contracting disseminated histoplasmosis, which can be fatal if left untreated.

Case: We present a case involving a 50-year-old woman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with an ulcerated vulvar lesion concerning for carcinoma.