Evaluation of a dehydrated test strip for the detection of yeasts

Abstract

Use of a dehydrated test strip for the detection of yeasts is compared with traditional culture on Sabouraud's agar containing 50 μg/ml chloramphenicol. While the selective medium of the strip is satisfactory for the isolation of species of Candida, Torulopsis glabrata grows only very slowly. The strip has the advantage of a long storage life without deterioration, but a high cost may preclude general usage. The numbers of yeasts collected by a bacteriological swab, disadvantages of the selective medium, and the value of direct microscopy in the examination of vaginal swabs are discussed.