TABLE 3.

Retrospective study of PCR versus culture for the detection of C. albicans in clinical samples

Origin of clinical samples	No. of samples
	Total	Positive by culture	Positive by agarose gel electrophoresis with EtBr staining	Positive by ELISA	False negative by PCR	False positive by PCR
Blood culture	124	31	29	31	0	0
Othersa	32	20	18	22	0	2b
Total	156	51	47	53	0	2b

^aAbdominal fluid (n = 22), pleural fluid (n = 4), bile (n = 3), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (n = 2), and a skin biopsy specimen (n = 1). 

^bThe two samples false positive by PCR were two abdominal fluid samples from patients treated with azole antifungal agents.