Serologic studies in suspected visceral candidiasis.

Twenty-six healthy controls and 45 patients with clinically suspected candidiasis were studied utilizing precipitin determination by double immunodiffusion, agglutinin titers, and presence of clumping factor by microscopy. The data are used to evaluate the specificity, reproducibility, and ease of performance of the procedures. Our results indicate that there is considerable overlap in agglutinin titers in patients with or without visceral candidiasis and that determination of clumping factor by microscopy only is inadequate for diagnosis. Precipitin tests were positive in 80% of patients with visceral candidiasis (exceptions were highly immunosuppressed hosts). This test is easily performed, reproducible, and can be applied in any general hospital laboratory. Neither agglutinin nor precipitin determination appears to be applicable to determining duration of therapy.