A Quantitative Immunofluorescence Test: An Evaluation of Candida Antigen in the Diagnosis of Invasive Candidiasis

There is an increasing interest in the serological diagnosis of deep candidiasis as this type of infection is now more frequent because of the growing number of iv-drug abusers and immunocompromised patients. A modification of the quantitative fluorescence technique (FIAX International Diagnostic Technology, Santa Clara, California) of Estes (G.B. Estes et al., 1980, J. Immunol. Methods, 35:105), using a somatic antigen of C. albicans (Ag S, Institut Pasteur, Paris)was evaluated comparatively with immunodiffusion (ID) in patients with evidence of invasive candidiasis as well as in negative controls. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the possibility of a rapid diagnosis of deep candidiasis.