The frequency of fungal infections, especially those caused by yeasts, has increased considerably over the last decade. Species identification of pathological products as well as antifungal susceptibility testing has become indispensable in choosing the correct therapeutic attitude. From this need Candifast and Fungifast
Two products that offer practical, cost-effective and fast 2-in-1 solutions - identification and resistance testing of a single inoculum - for mycosis diagnosis.
Thanks to their high performance, easy interpretation and simple and convenient use tailored to needs, Candifast and Fungifast have secured their place among the most popular mycological diagnostic kits.
Candifast and Fungifast combine the identification and antifungal resistance testing of the main pathogenic yeasts. The tests are carried out in galleries of 20 wells, ready to use, which are seeded from the same inoculum. The inoculum is prepared using young colonies (24 or 48 hours), perfectly isolated on culture medium. After incubation for 24-72 hours at 37°C, the results are interpreted by reading the colorimetric reactions.
Identification is based on the presence or absence of enzymes and resistance/susceptibility to antifungals is shown by the growth or absence of growth of yeasts in the presence of different antifungals at specific concentrations.
Although the methodology of use is similar, the two kits have some important differences:
- Candifast is adapted to superficial mycoses and Fungifast to systemic mycoses
- Candifast can identify 7 species + Saccharomyces genus + urea-positive genera while Fungifast can identify 10 species
- Candifast tests for resistance to 7 antifungal agents in a single concentration in the presence of a pH indicator; Fungifast tests for susceptibility to 5 antifungal agents: 4 agents in 2 concentrations and 1 agent in a single concentration in the presence of a redox indicator.
To anticipate the needs of microbiology laboratories, separate galleries are available for the evaluation of resistance to the main antifungal agents of yeasts identified by other methods: Candifast ES Twin and Fungifast AFG (equivalent to the second row of Candifast and Fungifast galleries respectively).