germ tube test

germ tube test

a test for the identification of Candida albicans; after a 3-hour incubation in serum, an inoculum of Candida develops tubelike appendages.

germ tube test

A screening test used for the rapid identification and specification of candidiasis caused by Candida albicans, a common fungal infection in immunosuppressed hosts. A clinical specimen is added to serum. If Candida germ tubes appear in the specimen within 2 hr, the test is presumed to be positive, pending confirmation by other laboratory assays.