Description

Most fungal pathogens identified in the blood of our patient population are in the genus Candida, for which detection through our in-house order "Blood Culture, Aerobic + Yeast" is sufficient (with the exceedingly rare exception of Malassezia species yeasts). Recovery of filamentous/dimorphic fungi from blood is thought to be improved through use of the isolator tube, but these pathogens are generally detected through other means. An academic analysis of 10,000 fungal isolator culture orders found that only 4 clinically relevant filamentous/dimorphic fungi and 3 Malassezia sp. were solely detected through the isolator method, and that there was 90% agreement compared with conventional blood culture for Candida sp. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27307462/

This culture includes Fungal Blood Culture. This culture type is for systemic fungi (Histoplasma, Blastomyces, and Coccidioides), and other filamentous molds (Aspergillus, Zygomycetes, Fusarium, etc.). If culture is intended for yeast, see Blood Culture, Aerobic + Yeast. If sample is not blood, such as nail, hair or skin scrapings, see Fungal Culture and KOH Prep. If sample is bone marrow, see Bone Marrow Culture.

Blood culture bottles are optimal for yeast but sub-optimal for isolation of filamentous/systemic fungi such as Aspergillis, Coccidiodes, Fusarium, Histoplasma and Blastomyces.