Four commercially available systems for identification of yeasts were evaluated using 178 clinical isolates and seven reference strains previously identified by a conventional method. After 72 h of incubation, the rate of correct identification was 86.5% with API20C Aux, 86% with Auxacolor, 68% with Mycotube and 51.1% with Candifast. When considering only the reference strains included in the manufacturers' databases, the identification rate was 90%, 91%, 87% and 61.2% respectively. Although the results at 72 h obtained with API20C Aux and Auxacolor were similar, Auxacolor led to more rapid identification of the strains, 67.9% versus 14.6% being identified at 24 h and 80.9% versus 64% being identified at 48 h.