Measurement of serum arabinitol by gas-liquid chromatography: limitations for detection of systemic candida infections.

The measurement of serum arabinitol in the diagnosis of systemic candidosis was evaluated using a gas-liquid chromatography technique in a cohort of at risk patients. The prevalence of seropositivity was low and did not correlate with evidence of infection. This technique is unlikely to achieve acceptance because it does not discriminate between patients with and without infection; it requires specialised equipment and it is expensive.