Validation of a qualitative real-time PCR assay for the detection of <i>Candida auris</i> in hospital inpatient screening

Abstract

This study overviews the validation and implementation of a molecular screening tool for the detection of <i>Candida auris</i> in a College of American Pathologist-accredited clinical laboratory. This molecular laboratory-developed test is both highly sensitive and specific and has significant health-system cost-savings associated with significantly reduced turn-around-time compared to traditional standard-of-care culture-based work up. This method and workflow is of interest to support clinical microbiology diagnostics and to help aid in hospital inpatient, and infection prevention control screening.