[The quantitative assay of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in culture medium of Candida albicans using G-test]

It has been difficult to diagnose the deep-seated fungal infection. Limulus test which originally has been developed to detect endotoxin in blood is also activated by (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, the cell wall component of the fungi. Factor G in limulus lysate is activated by (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan and not by endotoxin. The quantitative assay of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan is possible by the G-test using factor G. (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in RPMI culture medium of Candida albicans was periodically measured using G-test and the effect of antifungal drug or neutrophil to the changes of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in the culture medium was studied. Increase in the level of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan was in parallel with the growth of Candida albicans. G-test may be applied to the clinical diagnosis of fungal infection.