Background: Treatment for invasive candidiasis (IC) is time-critical, and culture-based tests can limit clinical utility. Nonculture-based methods such as Candida PCR represent a promising approach to improving patient management but require further evaluation to understand their optimal role and incorporation into clinical algorithms. This study determined the performance of the commercially available OLM CandID real-time PCR when testing serum and developed a diagnostic algorithm for IC. Methods: The study comprised a retrospective performance evaluation of the CandID real-time PCR assay when testing surplus serum (n = 83 patients, 38 with IC), followed by a prospective consecutive cohort evaluation (n = 103 patients, 24 with IC) post incorporation into routine service. A combined diagnostic algorithm, also including (1-3)-β-D-Glucan testing, was generated. Results: Prospective CandID testing generated a sensitivity/specificity of 88%/82%, respectively. Specificity was improved (>95%) when both PCR replicates were positive and/or the patient had multiple positive samples. When combining CandID with (1-3)-β-D-Glucan testing, the probability of IC when both were positive or negative was >69% or <1%, respectively. Conclusions: The CandID provides excellent performance and a rapid time-to-result using methods widely available in generic molecular diagnostic laboratories. By combining nonculture diagnostics, it may be possible to accurately confirm or exclude IC.
Keywords: Candida PCR; Candida diagnostics; OLM CandID; invasive candidiasis.