Role of the concentration process in the recovery of Candida albicans fromblood

The lysis-centrifugation system (Isolator(TM)) is recognized as the standar d method for recovery of Candida spp. from blood. In this study, the effect of the concentration process of this system was compared with conventional methods of blood culture using liquid and biphasic media. The tests were p erformed in vitro using Candida albicans in counts of 100, 10, 1, and 0.5 c ells/ml of blood. Cultures onto chocolate agar were performed with the sedi ment obtained after centrifugation of Isolator(TM) tube and with liquid and biphasic media after their incubation for 24 h at 35 degrees C. Gram stain prepared from the conventional methods were also evaluated in the first 24 h. It was possible to detect Candida albicans in blood, regardless both th e number of cells or methodology. As blastoconidia were observed in Gram st ains at the same time that growth was noted, time for diagnosis was also no t different for the compared methods. Therefore, we suggest that the proces s of concentration is not the single important factor responsible for the r ecovery rates of Candida albicans from blood by the Isolator(TM) system.