Yeast Only, Culture

Blood: Isolate and identify yeast; establish the diagnosis of fungemia, fungal endocarditis, and disseminated mycosis in patients at risk for fungal infections.

Blood: A single (or even multiple) negative fungal blood culture does not exclude disseminated fungal infection. If disseminated or deep fungal infection is strongly suspected despite repeatedly negative blood cultures, biopsy of the appropriate tissue and/or bone marrow aspiration for sections and fungus culture should be considered.

Filamentous fungi will not be recovered by this methodology specifically: Systemic fungal pathogens (ie, Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis) will not be recovered by this culture. Dermatophytes (Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton) will not be recovered by this culture.

Not recommended for sterile body sites, corneal scrapings, or surgically-collected specimens.

Stool: Use of this test is generally limited to screening for Candida.

Usual sterile preparation.