Diagnostic Value of Candida Precipitins Determined by Counterimmunoelectrophoresis in Patients with Acute Leukemia: A Prospective Study

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Abstract
Thirty-nine patients receiving chemotherapy for acute leukemia had weekly determinations of Candida precipitins by use of counterimmunoelectrophoresis. The only two patients who had proven disseminated candidiasis both had diagnostic (≥⅛) titers. However, most patients with “possible” disseminated candidiasis did not have diagnostic titers. The test’s specificity was high (90%), and only one of five patients infected with other fungi had diagnostic titers. However, because there were so few “true positives” in this small series, the relatively small number of “false positives” resulted in a low predictive value for this test. Based on a review of the literature and the authors’ experience, the value of this test for patients who have acute leukemia does not appear to be well established.