Evaluation of the Copan ESwab Transport System for Viability of Pathogenic Fungi by Use of a Modification of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute Document M40-A2

The Copan ESwab system was evaluated for its ability to maintain the viability of pathogenic fungi. Tests followed the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) document M40-A2 roll-plate method at room and refrigerator temperatures. A system was devised for standardizing homogeneous inoculum suspensions of variously sized conidia and sporangiospores of filamentous fungi. A total of 19 clinical and reference strains were standardized to a 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard with a simple photometer. Corresponding optical densities were measured with a spectrophotometer. Colony counts equal to or greater than those seen at time zero were obtained for the entire test panel. Results indicate that the Copan ESwab system effectively maintains prevalent opportunistic fungal organisms for at least 48 h.