Original article Performance of BacticardTM Candida compared with the germ tube test for the presumptive identification of Candida albicans BacticardTM Candida in der Identifizierung von Candida albicans im Vergleich mit dem Keimschlauchtest

BacticardTM Candida was compared with the germ tube test for the rapid, presumptive identification of Candida albicans. This test kit detects the enzymatic activities l-proline aminopeptidase and beta-galactosaminidase in yeast colonies grown on culture media. Candida albicans produces both enzymes whereas other yeasts produce only one or neither of the enzymes. We evaluated 536 isolates including eight genera and 33 species of medically important yeasts, including 228 C. albicans and 36 C. dubliniensis. Both tests did not discriminate between C. albicans and C. dubliniensis isolates. The sensitivity and specificity for the BacticardTM Candida test were 97.8 and 96.5%, respectively. BacticardTM Candida and germ tube tests detected 246 (93.2%), and 256 (97%) C. albicans plus C. dubliniensis isolates. There were eight false-positive results with BactiCardTM Candida kit and four false-positive results with the germ tube test. Positive and negative predictive values for BacticardTM Candida enzymatic test were 95.3 and 98.4%, respectively, while 97.4 and 98.1% for the germ tube test, its specificity being 98.1% and efficiency 97% (97.7% for germ tube) . We have observed slightly lower values of sensitivity and specificity than those reported by others using the BactiCardTM test kit. BacticardTM Candida provides a rapid and accurate alternative to the germ tube test for the presumptive identification of C. albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]