Candida Fungus Antigen

Candida albicans antigen is a laboratory test designed to detect the presence of the Candida albicans fungus in the body, especially when systemic or invasive candidiasis is suspected. Candida albicans is a yeast naturally found in the human mouth, throat, gastrointestinal tract, vagina, and skin. Under normal conditions, it poses no threat, but it can cause an infection – candidiasis – if the immune system is weakened.

Detection of the Candida fungus antigen allows for the suspicion or confirmation of a systemic infection when the fungus spreads through the bloodstream to internal organs. This is particularly relevant for immunosuppressed patients – those with oncological diseases, after organ transplantation, undergoing chemotherapy, or in severe sepsis.

Test principle: The Candida albicans antigen is detected using an immunochemical method from venous blood. Results are usually presented as positive or negative. A positive result indicates an active or invasive Candida infection.

Recommendations:

• Recommended for patients suspected of having systemic or invasive candidiasis.
• Useful for assessing the presence of infection in immunosuppressed patients or in intensive care units.
• Indicated when there is a persistent fever whose cause cannot be determined by standard methods.
• Performed alongside other microbiological and serological tests.
• No specific preparation for the test is required.