PCR and β-d-Glucan Assays for Diagnosing Invasive Candidiasis

Sensitivity was 80% for polymerase chain reaction and 56% for β-D-glucan at a cutoff of ≥80 pmol/mL; specificity was ≥70% for both.

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, in part because of delayed or missed identification. The current gold standard for diagnosis is a blood or sterile-site culture positive for Candida species. However, blood cultures are often negative in autopsy-proven cases, or they become positive late in disease; sterile-site cultures require invasive sampling. A search for rapid, more-sensitive tests has yielded two of particular note: a 1,3 β-d-glucan (BDG) assay and a Candida real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.

In a recent study involving blood samples prospectively collected from 55 patients with IC (candidemia, deep-seated candidiasis, or both) and 73 hospitalized controls without IC, resea…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)