Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of anti-candida serum precipitin and agglutinin quantification: comparison of counterimmunoelectrophoresis and latex agglutination.

Many serological techniques have been developed to aid in the discrimination of significant candidiasis from other clinical states. Serum anti-candida precipitin and agglutinin quantification by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and latex agglutination were statistically evaluated as to their respective ability to accomplish this discrimination. Forty-five serum specimens from 16 patients with documented disease and 2 with presumptive disease and 81 specimens from 70 control patients were studied. The control population consisted of patients with candida colonization, transient candidemia, bacteremia, other systemic mycoses, and healthy medical personnel. The two techniques were compared as to sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of a positive and a negative test. Using a precipitin or agglutinin titer of greater than or equal to 1:8 as the criterion for a positive test, we obtained the following results: counterimmunoelectrophoresis, 78, 97, 88, and 94%, respectively; latex agglutination, 94, 50, 33, and 97%, respectively.