ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value of lateral chromatography for cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen in cryptococcal infection.MethodsThe data of patients who detected cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen in West China Hospital of Sichuan University in 2018 were collected. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen detected by lateral chromatography were analyzed. The samples with positive lateral chromatography and definite clinical diagnosis were compared with the results of ink staining and fungal culture.ResultsA total of 721 cases were detected. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of lateral chromatography detection were 100.00%, 99.39%, 93.93%, 100.00%, respectively. The positive rates of ink staining, fungal culture and cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen for cryptococcal infection were 63.46%, 48.00% and 100.00%, respectively. Sixty-two patients were clinically diagnosed, including 45 cases of cryptococcal meningitis (72.58%), 16 cases of cryptococcal pneumonia (25.81%), and 1 case of bone cryptococcal infection (1.61%).ConclusionsLateral chromatography detection for cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen shows well performing sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of cryptococcal infection. Considering its rapid and simple pre-operation, cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen detection with lateral chromatography has good application value for early diagosis of cryptococcal infection.