Immunodiffusion (ID)

Candida species, although usually considered saprophytic, are now known to cause disease. Current treatment regimens such as broad-spectrum antibiotics, corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs have led to an increased prevalence of systemic candidiasis. Unfortunately, unique clinical features are lacking in visceral candidiasis and the diagnosis is frequently not made antemortem. Early and accurate diagnosis is the key to successful therapy. Stallybrass has reported the significance of precipitating antibodies against C. albicans in sera from patients with systemic or visceral candidiasis using the ID test. Sera from healthy individuals and patients with mucocutaneous candidiasis did not give positive ID tests. The ID test for antibodies is helpful in the diagnosis of systemic candidiasis in immunocompetent hosts. However, immunosuppressed patients may mount a limited humoral immune response or fail to produce antibodies, so a negative ID test does not rule out disease. Because these fungi occur as part of the normal flora of the body, their isolation may not be sufficient evidence for laboratory diagnosis. Serologic tests provide additional information where a rise in titer or change in the number of precipitins is more indicative of infection than a single positive test.

Immunodiffusion Plates

Immunodiffusion (ID)

cforms contact form by delicious:days