Evaluation of germ tube test in various media
Arora, D.R.; Saini, S.; Aparna; Gupta, N.
Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology 46(1): 124-126
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0377-4929 PMID: 15027753 Document Number: 563782
One of the most valuable tests for the rapid presumptive identification of Candida albicans is germ tube production. Previously researchers have concluded superior results with serum in germ tube test. However, handling of pooled human serum has danger of acquisition of hepatitis and HIV infections. Therefore, in the present study we compared various media--pooled human serum, sterile horse serum, peptone water and tryptic soy broth. It was observed that human serum remains to be the best with 100% positivity for identification of C. albicans followed by horse serum (76.3%), peptone water (61.8%) and tryptic soy broth (61.8%).