Sorted By Test Name - Mayo Medical Laboratories

FGEN
84389
FVAG
5184
after 30 days incubation.
Reference Values:
Negative
If positive, fungus or yeast will be identified.
Clinical References: Summerbell RC, Weitzman I, Padhye AA: Trichophyton, Microsporum,
Epidermophyton and agents of superficial mycoses. In Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 9th edition.
Edited by PR Murray, EJ Baron, et al. Washington DC. ASM Press, 2007, pp 1874-1897
Fungal Culture, Routine
Clinical Information: Many fungi in the environment cause disease in severely compromised human
hosts. Accordingly, the range of potential pathogenic fungi has increased as the number of
immunosuppressed individuals (eg, persons with AIDS, patients receiving chemotherapy, or transplant
rejection therapy) has increased. Few fungal diseases can be diagnosed clinically; many are diagnosed by
isolating and identifying the infecting fungus in the clinical laboratory.
Useful For: Diagnosing fungal infections from specimens other than blood, skin, hair, nail, and vagina
(separate tests are available for these specimen sites)
Interpretation: Positive cultures of filamentous fungi are reported with the organism identification.
Positive respiratory cultures (with the exception of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) of yeast are reported as
"yeast not Cryptococcus neoformans" or reported with organism identification of Cryptococcus
neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii. Positive cultures of yeast from sterile body fluid, bronchoalveolar
lavage fluid, tissue, and urine are reported with organism identification. Positive cultures of yeast from
stool are reported as "yeast." The clinician must determine whether or not the presence of an organism is
significant. A final negative report is issued after 24 days of incubation.
Reference Values:
Negative
If positive, fungus will be identified.
Clinical References: Shea YR: Algorithms for detection and identification of fungi. In Manual of
Clinical Microbiology. 9th edition. Edited by PR Murray, EJ Baron. Washington DC. ASM Press, 2007,
pp 1745-1761
Fungal Culture, Vaginal
Clinical Information: Candidal vulvovaginitis is believed to be the most frequent or second most
frequent vaginal infection. Depending on the geographical area, its prevalence in women is estimated to
be in the range of 5% to 20%. Besides Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis are the
most frequently isolated Candida species both from vulvo-vaginitis patients and from healthy carriers.
Useful For: Monitoring therapy, managing chronic recurring disease, or determining the etiology of
infectious vaginitis when other tests have been uninformative
Interpretation: Meaningful diagnosis of vaginal candidiasis requires that 1) yeast are demonstrable in
the affected area and 2) clinical symptoms and signs are consistent with the disease. Since in up to 20% of
healthy women, yeast cells are part of the normal vaginal flora, the presence of Candida on culture may be
meaningless or misleading unless other clinical factors are considered.
Reference Values:
Negative
If positive, yeast will be identified.
Clinical References: 1. McCormack WM: Vulvovaginitis and cervicitis. In Principles and Practice
of Infectious Diseases. 6th edition. Edited by Mandell GL, Bennett JE, and Dolin R. Philadelphia,
Elsevier Inc, 2005, pp1357-1372 2. Sutton DA: Specimen Collection, Transport, and Processing:
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