title: [Cremophor EL test for identification of Malassezia species].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish a new method using cremophor EL test for the identification of Malassezia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The suspension of Malassezia fur fur was incubated in a broth containing different concentrations of cremophor EL at 32 degrees C. Cell growth of the yeast was counted by hematocytometer at the 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th day, respectively. The optimum concentration of cremophor EL for Malassezia was determined by means of variance analysis. Then the 11 species of Malassezia were inoculate in the agar containing the optimum concentration of cremophor EL, and the growth of colony of each species were observed and compared with those inoculated under traditional conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The optimum concentration of cremophor EL for Malassezia fur fur was 4% (P < 0.05). The growth of the 11 species in the agar containing 4% cremophor EL were identical with those inoculated under the traditional conditions. The new method was easy to perform and demanded less culture medium and strains of yeast.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cremophor EL test can improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of identification of Malassezia species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenereology , West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Feng
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D005990:Glycerol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008290:Malassezia / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; C000515:cremophor EL; D005990:Glycerol