CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF THE AUTOMICROBIC SYSTEM YEAST BIOCHEMICAL CARD FOR RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF MEDICALLY IMPORTANT YEASTS

The AutoMicrobic system Yeast Biochemical Card (Vitek Systems, Inc.), a fully automated and computer assisted method for identifying 7 yeast genera based on 26 biochemical reactions, was compared with the API 20C (Analytab Products) yeast identification system, using 253 clinical yeast isolates. There was an 84% correlation between the Yeast Biochemical Card and API 20C systems based on biochemical tests alone and a 96% correlation when morphology was combined with the biochemical profile. Of 22 spp. examined, 14 were definitively identified within 24 h, using only the biochemical tests; the remaining 8 spp. were presumptively identified, using biochemical tests, within 24 h with definitive identification being completed in 48-72 h when morphological characteristics were ascertained. The Yeast Biochemical Card system was both a facile and, with concomitant morphology, an accurate system for yeast identification.