Comparison of Auxacolor with API 20 C Aux in yeast identification

OBJECTIVE: To compare Auxacolor with API 20 C Aux for identification of yeasts. METHODS: A total of 206 isolates belonging to 25 species was used in this study. Conventional yeast identification methods were used as a reference. RESULTS: With API 20 C Aux, the correct identification rate was 89.3% after 2 days, while 94.7% of the strains were correctly identified after 3 days. One of 14 strains of Candida tropicalis and 10 of 16 strains of Trichosporon cutaneum were not correctly identified. With Auxacolor, the percentages of correct identification after 1 and 2 days were 60.1% and 69.4%, respectively. Most strains of 11 of the 20 species considered in the system were correctly identified, including several of the most frequent yeast species. Several less commonly encountered yeast species were not correctly identified. Suggestions for improvement of the Auxacolor system are given. CONCLUSIONS: For the most frequent yeast species, Auxacolor, after adaptation and correction of the identification table, provides a useful alternative to API 20 C Aux. For less frequently encountered yeast species, the use of API 20 C Aux is preferable.