Application of CHROMagar candida, A New Differential Isolation Medium for Presumptive Identification of candida Species from Oral Cavity of Immunocompromised Patients

CHROMagar Candida (CA) is a new differential culture medium that allows selective isolation of yeasts and simultaneously identifies colonies of Candida albicans, Candida. tropicalis, , Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei. In comparision with conventional medium i. e. sabrauads dextrose agar (SDA), we evaluated 50 isolates directly on CHROMagar and SDA from oral samples. Over 95 % of clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei were correctly identified on the basis of colony morphology and pigmentation on CHROMagar as compared to SDA. CHROMagar is extremely useful in making a rapid presumptive identification of common yeast species. This capability plus the ability to detect mixed cultures of Candida spp. promises to improve and streamline the work flow in the mycology and clinical microbiology laboratory.