Rapid identification of Candida spp. frequently involved in invasive mycoses by using flow-through hybridization and Gene Chip (FHGC) technology

- The test provides reliable identification of the 10 major Candida species.
- This method distinguishes between the common ten Candida species within 3 h.
- The test may distinguish C. parapsilosis from C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis.
- This system can detect mixed infection of the ten common pathogenic fungi.
- The methods will allow more tests at lower cost in small clinical laboratories.

The incidence of invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients has increased in recent decades. Rapid and accurate identification of these pathogenic fungi is crucial for initiating a timely, safe, and effective antifungal therapy. Here we developed a microarray based on flow-through hybridization gene chip technology. The microarray was tested for its specificity using a panel of reference and blinded clinical isolates. The results proved that this microarray was highly discriminative, leading to the unequivocal identification of each species, including Candida famata and the highly related species Candida parapsilosis, Candida orthopsilosis, and Candida metapsilosis. This new system represents a reliable method that is of potential use in clinical laboratories for the simultaneous detection and identification of the most common pathogenic fungi.