Comparison of PCR fingerprinting, by random amplification of polymorphic DNA, with other molecular typing methods for Candida albicans.

Fingerprinting by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was compared with existing molecular typing systems for Candida albicans. Fifteen isolates were chosen, including three from the same patient; these gave 14 distinct karyotypes by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and 7 different DNA types by EcoRI-generated restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). RAPD with primer I (5'GCTGGTGG3') gave 5 types, whereas primer II (5'GCGCACGG3') yielded 11 types. Combining the results from both primers, all isolates were unique by RAPD with the exception of the three from the same patient. RAPD provided a fast, economical and reproducible means of typing C. albicans with a level of discrimination approaching that of PFGE.