Abstract: Objective: To explore a rapid and cost-effective method for identification of Candida glabrata through the comparison of two different methods, using molecular methods of sequencing as gold standard.  Methods: From our clinic, 200 strains of suspected Candida glabrata were collected during the last 3 years and selected after incubation in CHROMagar Candida medium for 48 h. By comparing the results of the CHROMagar Candida medium, the identification of the rapid trehalose test for different kinds of strains were analyzed under incubation in the tubes for 3 h, 6 h, and 24 h at 37 ℃ and 42 ℃, respectively. All the strains were identified to species level by methods of sequencing. The optimal time and temperature of the trehalose test for the identification of Candida glabrata were assessed. Two different methods, CHROMagar Candida medium and the rapid trehalose test, in identification of Candida glabrata were compared. Results: In all the 200 strains, Candida glabrata ferment trehalose with 3 h incubation under 42 ℃ were the optimal time and temperature for fermenting trehalose. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the rapid trehalose test were 99.00% (198/200), 98.66% (147/149) and 100.00% (51/51). The accuracy rate of CHROMagar Candida medium was 79.50% (159/200), the sensitivity and specificity were only 89.93% (134/149) and 49.02% (25/51), however, compared with the domestic current popular methods, the rapid trehalose test had better time efficiency ratio. Conclusion: The evaluation results suggest that the rapid trehalose test has advantages in terms of operational convenience and low cost, and the results can be obtained in 3 h. Therefore, it has application value in clinical laboratory.

Key words: Candida glabrata, Trehalose, Laboratory techniques and procedures