University of Arizona Researchers Developing New Urine Test for Valley Fever
Researchers at the University of Arizona's Valley Fever Center for Excellence are developing a urine test that could potentially speed up the diagnosis of Valley Fever.
Phoenix, AZ, November 3, 2026 — Researchers at the University of Arizona’s Valley Fever Center for Excellence are advancing the development of a new diagnostic tool for Valley Fever. The focus of their work is a urine test, which, if successful, could significantly accelerate the identification of the fungal infection.
Valley Fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is caused by the fungus Coccidioides, which lives in the soil of the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and South America. It becomes airborne when soil is disturbed, for example, by construction or wind. Inhalation of the fungal spores can lead to infection.
Symptoms of Valley Fever can mimic those of other illnesses, such as influenza or pneumonia, often including fever, cough, headache, fatigue, and rash. This similarity can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, as patients may undergo testing for other conditions first. The current diagnostic methods can sometimes involve blood tests that require laboratory analysis and may take days to yield results.
The development of a urine test by the University of Arizona team aims to address this diagnostic bottleneck. A faster and potentially more accessible test could allow for earlier treatment, which is crucial for managing the disease and potentially preventing its progression to more severe or disseminated forms. The researchers are working to establish the efficacy and reliability of this novel approach. Further details on the timeline for the test’s development, its specific accuracy rates, or availability were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Katherine Davis-Young on www.kjzz.org, see more information here.
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