The comparison of two agar media for germ tube and chlamydospore production by Candida albicans.

A simple (2% oxgall) agar medium is described for the production of both germ tubes and chlamydospores by over 500 clinical isolates of Candida albicans. In comparison studies between the 2% oxgall agar and the more complex "cream of rice" infusion-oxgall-Tween 80 agar (RIOT), germ tubes were formed by 478 isolates in both media, by 9 isolates in only the oxgall medium and by 11 isolates in only the RIOT medium. Chlamydospores were formed by 481 isolates in both media, by 2 isolates in only the oxgall medium and by 9 isolates in only the RIOT medium. The data also show that both the germ tubes and chlamydospores were needed for the presumptive clinical identification of C. albicans.