Evaluation of CHROMagar Candida medium for the isolation and presumptive identification of species of Candida of clinical importance.

CHROMagar candida is a new differential culture medium that allows the isolation and presumptive identification of species of yeast of clinical importance. We tested 618 strains of yeast, including 128 direct isolates from clinical specimens. After two days of incubation at 37 degrees C, 339 of 341 Candida albicans, 98 of 99 Candida glabrata, all the Candida tropicalis, and all the Candida krusei were identified correctly. The sensitivity and specificity in these cases were both superior to 99%. Easy to prepare, with low cost, CHROMagar Candida proves to be a useful medium for the identification of species of yeast that are isolated with greater frequency in clinical material and for the identification of mixed cultures.