Rapid fluorogenic assay for differentiation of the Candida parapsilosis group from other Candida spp.

A 30-min fluorogenic test was developed for differentiation of members of the Candida parapsilosis group from other Candida species commonly encountered in clinical material. The fluorogenic substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucoside, was utilized to assay beta-glucosidase activity. A total of 50 C. parapsilosis isolates and 135 isolates of four other Candida species were tested. Assay sensitivity and specificity were 100 and 99.3%, respectively. The procedure was adapted for use with a spectrofluorometer.