Biochemical identification of clinically important yeasts.

Four commercially available kits for the speciation of yeasts were tested against 50 clinical isolates that had been identified by conventional methods. On biochemical grounds alone, the four systems varied from 71% to 100% in their efficiency in identifying Candida albicans. Yeasts other than C. albicans were identified with an efficiency varying from 24% to 83%. Conclusions are drawn on the value of these systems to the routine laboratory.