Editing Candida albicans (section)

===Diagnosis===
A United States study in 2022 showed that most cases of candidiasis are treated [[empiric therapy|empirically]] (without culture, pending culture or by symptoms in cases where culture did not show candida), thus not knowing whether the subtype is ''Candida albicans'' or any other candida species.<ref name="pmid36505943">{{cite journal| author=Eguiguren L, Lee BR, Newland JG, Kronman MP, Hersh AL, Gerber JS | display-authors=etal| title=Characteristics of antifungal utilization for hospitalized children in the United States. | journal=Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol | year= 2022 | volume= 2 | issue= 1 | pages= e190 | pmid=36505943 | doi=10.1017/ash.2022.338 | pmc=9726632 }}</ref> For subtyping of candidiasis, a [[fungal culture]] can be performed, followed by a [[germ tube]] test in which a sample of fungal spores are suspended in animal [[blood serum|serum]] and examined by [[microscopy]] for the detection of any germ tubes.<ref name=doctorfungus>Chapter  IV. Germ Tube Test in [http://www.doctorfungus.org/thelabor/sec12.pdf YEAST IDENTIFICATION] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927045233/http://www.doctorfungus.org/thelabor/sec12.pdf |date=2011-09-27 }} document at doctorfungus.org. Retrieved July 2011</ref> Colonies of white or cream color on fungal culture having a positive germ tube test is strongly indicative of ''Candida albicans''.<ref name=doctorfungus/>
<gallery>
File:Candida albicans PHIL 3192 lores.jpg|[[Agar plate]] culture of ''C. albicans''
File:C albicans germ tubes.jpg|Germ tubes of ''Candida albicans''
File:Candida Gram stain.jpg|[[Gram stain]] of ''Candida albicans'' from a vaginal swab; the small oval [[chlamydospore]]s are 2–4&nbsp;[[micrometre|μm]] in diameter 
File:CHROMAgar with N glabratus, P kudriavzevii, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis, annotated.jpg|Chromogenic agar can help in indicating main species of ''Candida'' versus similar fungi. (CHROMAgar shown)
File:Mycology algorithm.png|Algorithm for the diagnosis of ''Candida albicans'' versus differential diagnoses
</gallery>