Relevance of antigenicity of Candida albicans growth phases to diagnosis of systemic candidiasis.

The antigenicity of the two growth phases of Candida albicans has been compared by using crossed immunoelectrophoresis and double-diffusion techniques. Qualitative and quantitative differences in antigenic composition between the phases have been revealed and moreover a specific mycelial antigenic component demonstrated.It is postulated that the use of specific mycelial antigens for routine diagnostic precipitin testing in patients with suspected systemic candidiasis would give more reliable results than at present obtained with yeast cell antigens.