title: Phenotypic identification of Candida albicans by growth on chocolate agar.
abstract: In this study, we describe a simple method for the identification of Candida albicans in clinical samples. A total of 383 clinical isolates of Candida species were streaked onto chocolate agar and incubated for 48 h at 37 degrees C in the presence of an atmosphere of 6% CO2. All 208 of the C. albicans isolates tested, developed an easy to identify filamentous colony morphology. Of 175 other Candida species tested, 172 (98.3%) were distinguishable from C. albicans by their smooth colony morphology. Three isolates (1.7%) exhibited weak filamentation after prolonged incubation. Although not a routine medium in medical mycology a significant advantage of using chocolate agar lies in its use in clinical bacteriology laboratories for the isolation of fastidious bacteria. Implementation of the proposed method is applicable across a range of specimen types, thus allowing the direct identification of C. albicans in clinical samples. This simple method may allow a quicker entry into directed treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
authors.forename: Chirag C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: Fritz A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Mühlschlegel
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods; D010781:Photography; D010784:Photomicrography
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media