| Common primary human fungal pathogens are Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp., opportunistic fungal pathogens, including Fusarium spp., Trichosporon spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Acremonium, Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Sporothrix schenckii, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Pneumocystis carinii. The (1-3)-ß-D-glucan produced by these organisms can be detected by the Fungitell assay.
Similar to enzyme immunoassays, the Fungitell assay is performed in microplates and read in an incubating reader. It is a homogeneous assay, and does not require any washing steps. It can be completed in approximately one hour. The Fungitell assay is indicated for presumptive diagnosis of fungal infection. It should be used in conjunction with other diagnostic procedures. The Fungitell assay does not detect certain fungal species such as the genus Cryptococcus, which produces very low levels of (1-3)-ß-D-glucan. This assay also does not detect the Zygomycetes, such as Absidia, Mucor, and Rhizopus, which are not known to produce (1-3)-ß-D-glucan. |
