Abstract
The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technique was used to diagnose Candida albicans infection that was common in immunocompromised patients. Oligonucleotide primers were synthesized to amplify a 180bp fragment on the β-tubulin gene of C. albicans.
DNA was amplified by these primers from C. albicans of all the standard strains and the strains isolated from clinical specimens, but not from any other Candida, other fungal, other bacterial or human DNA. The detection limit using nested PCR was 10fg of purified C. albicans DNA. This PCR is more specific, sensitive and rapid than the conventional culture method and is applicable to diagnosis of candidemia.
