Invasive fungal infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. Diagnosing these infections relies upon accurately recognizing a constellation of clinical signs and symptoms, as well as imaging and laboratory studies. These diagnoses are difficult, expensive, and time consuming. In the laboratory, culture of invasive fungal pathogens is slow and can be complicated by the presence of contaminating molds in the environment. Further, in many specimens from patients, fungal organisms can be seen by microscopy of tissue sections or body fluids, but are not viable. Some specimens may never reveal the presence of a fungal pathogen because of low abundance and /or lack of viability. Our laboratory has validated DNA sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 and 2 regions of the rRNA genes as a rapid and accurate means of identifying clinically significant fungi.
Real-time PCR to detect this DNA extracted directly from clinical specimen facilitates more rapid detection of fungal elements, and unique melting characteristics of the PCR amplicons provides specific identification of Aspergillus spp. DNA.
For interesting cases emplyoying this test methodology, please see our Clinical Significance page.
