Background

The diagnostic tools currently employed to detect fungal pathogens:

The diagnostic methods employed to diagnose fungal infections at present vary in performance as each type of pathogen has a greater proclivity for being detected by some tests than others. However, microscopy has always been the mainstay as far as diagnosis of fungal infections is concerned. We look forward to improve the diagnostic capabilities of conventional microscopy by enhancing specificity and visibility through the application molecular biology.The following table was compiled from Fungal Infection Thrust.

Fungal infection	Diagnostic technique
	Microscopy	Agar culture	Xrays/scans	Antigen	Blood antibody	DNA detection
Thrush	+++	+++	-	-	-	-
Candida bloodstream	-	+++	+	+	+	+++
Candida abdominal	+	+++	+	-	-	-
Cryptococcal meningitis	++	+++	+	+++	-	-
Invasive aspergillosis	+	+	+++	++	-	++
Chronic aspergillosis	+	+	+++	-	+++	++
Allergic aspergillosis	+	+	++	-	+++	+
Coccidioidomycosis	+	++	++	-	+++	-
Histoplasmosis	+	++	+	++	-	-
Zygomycosis	+++	+	++	-	-	-

Detection by PCR

The table above denotes a summary of the techniques used at present to detect the leading fungal pathogens in world. Note that the column titled "DNA detection" is a simplified term for the use of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect pathogens. Although it is touted as a very reliable test, it can only be used in a few types of infections. This is in addition to the other disadvantages it has, such as high cost and more stringent laboratory conditions required which results in this technique not being available to the less developed parts of the world. Finally, the most important disadvantage is that these organisms can be detected EVEN IF THEY ARE NON-VIABLE, as in a post infection stage.

Detection by conventional microscopy

As mentioned before, microscopy is reliable (albeit to different degrees) in nearly all cases. This is primarily because microscopy is a relatively older technique and has only a few requirements: such as a fluorescent microscope, a stain for contrast, a tissue or blood sample from the patient and an user with some experience. Thus, we believe that improving detectability through microscopy by giving it the advantage of molecular biology (specificity and a better scope for visualization) while maintaining the advantages of conventional microscopy.