Comparison: Multiplex PCR vs Blood Culture vs Biomarker Tests (β-D-Glucan / CrAg)B

Multiplex PCR Setup

Introduction of Comparison: Multiplex PCR vs Blood Culture vs Biomarker Tests The diagnosis of invasive fungal infections remains a major clinical challenge, especially in high-risk patients such as those with cancer, transplants, or critical illness. Conventional blood culture is still the gold standard but suffers …

Read more

Multiplex PCR Assay-Directly on Blood for Fungi: Introduction, Principle, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Introduction Fungal bloodstream infections (fungemia) are life-threatening, especially in immunocompromised and oncology patients. Conventional methods like blood culture are slow, often requiring several days for growth and identification. Multiplex PCR directly on blood offers rapid, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of multiple fungal pathogens without the …

Read more

Fungal Identification by PCR-Sequencing (Sanger): Introduction, Principle, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Pure culture of Candida

Introduction Accurate identification of fungi is critical for clinical, environmental, and epidemiological purposes. Traditional culture and morphology-based methods are time-consuming and may misidentify cryptic or closely related species. PCR amplification followed by Sanger sequencing of conserved genetic loci (e.g., ITS, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, β-tubulin, …

Read more

Candida auris PCR-Directly on Clinical Samples: Introduction, Principle, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Candida auris PCR-Directly on Clinical Samples: Introduction, Principle, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Introduction Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast responsible for outbreaks of healthcare-associated infections worldwide. It is difficult to identify by conventional culture and biochemical methods, often misidentified as other Candida species (C. haemulonii, C. famata). Rapid and accurate detection is essential to initiate infection …

Read more

Multiplex PCR assay-Directly on Respiratory samples:Introduction, Principle, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Introduction Respiratory tract infections are caused by a wide range of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Conventional diagnostic methods such as culture, microscopy, and antigen detection are time-consuming and often lack sensitivity. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, applied directly to respiratory samples (sputum, …

Read more

Glass Beads- Introduction, Principle, Test Requirements, Working Mechanism, Application, and Keynotes

Glass Beads in a Container

Introduction Glass beads are small, inert, spherical particles widely used in microbiology, molecular biology, and cell culture. Their smooth, durable surface and chemical stability make them suitable for disrupting tissues, homogenizing cells, and aiding in sterilization or agitation processes. Principle The principle of using these …

Read more

MDR Candida NGS:Introduction, Principle, Test Requirements, Procedure, Result-Interpretation, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

MDR Candida NGS:Introduction, Principle, Test Requirements, Procedure, Result-Interpretation, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

 Introduction of MDR Candida NGS MDR Candida NGS refers to the use of Next-Generation Sequencing for the detection, identification, and resistance gene profiling of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Candida species, such as Candida auris, Candida glabrata, and others resistant to azoles, echinocandins, or polyenes. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) …

Read more

Fungal Typing, Sequencing, and AFLP in Clinical Mycology Lab-Introduction, Purpose, Method, Application, and Conclusion

Various Candida species growth on Chromagar-Candida albicans, Candida krusie, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata

Introduction to Advanced Molecular Techniques in Clinical Mycology Clinical mycology laboratories play a crucial role in diagnosing and managing fungal infections. Traditional methods like culture and microscopy are often complemented by advanced molecular techniques to improve the accuracy and speed of fungal identification. Among these …

Read more