ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Rapid and reliable identification of Candida albicans becomes more important because the incidence of yeast infections has increased in recent years. Murex C. albicans 50(CA50) assay was developed for rapid and presumptive identification of C. albicans. We evaluated the CA50 assay to identify C. albicans. METHOD: Seventy four yeast isolates from clinical specimens were tested with CA50 and germ tube test. They were identified to species level by API 20C and chlamydospore agar test. RESULT: Of the 74 isolates, 52 were C. albicans and 22 were non-albicans Candida. The sensitivity and specificity for CA50 were 88.5% and 86.4%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the germ tube test using human serum were 88.5% and 90.9% respectively, and those using fetal bovine serum(FBS) were 92.3% and 90.9% respectively. CONCLUSION: CA50 was a rapid and easy-to-perform test, and it was comparable to germ tube test in regard of sensitivity and specificity.
