Background: Candida albicans infections are frequent in immunocompromised patients and a prompt diagnosis could favor an early and proper antifungal treatment. The rapid identification of clinical yeast isolates facilitate this diagnosis.
Methods: The utility of Fluoroplate Candida ready-to-use plates for Candida albicans rapid identification was evaluated with 653 clinical isolates from 23 yeast species, including 307 C. albicans plated onto Fluoroplate Candida agar (Merck, Germany). Rapid identification of C. albicans was based on the hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-galactosaminide by the galactosaminidase activity of C. albicans producing white fluorescent colonies under ultraviolet light. Identification on Fluoroplate Candida was confirmed by germ tube, chlamydoconidia formation and API-ATB ID 32C assays.
Results: Three hundred and five of 306 isolates showing fluorescent colonies were C. albicans and one was Candida glabrata (false positive). The rest of the isolates showed colonies without fluorescence and with the exception of two false negatives, these isolates were identified as non-C. albicans by other methods.
Conclusions: Fluoroplate Candida allows a rapid and excellent identification of C. albicans showing a sensitivity and specificity of 99.3 and 99.7%, respectively.