The prevalence of fungal infections has increased in recent years due to an increasing population of immune-compromised patients, intensive immunosuppressive chemotherapy, increasing awareness of fungal infections, and the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and central venous catheters. Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) continue to extract a significant toll on human health and to be associated with excessive morbidity and mortality. In the recent days, black/white fungus disease or mucormycosis, an IFI, has posed a serious threat to COVID patients or patients recently recovered from COVID-19. The use of steroids, ICU conditions and weakened immunity are suspected to be the likely causes for the spread of the mucor group of fungi in such patients. The most common genera in invasive mucormycosis are Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, Lichtheimia and Mucor, accounting for 90% of all cases. Other genera (Cunninghamella, Apophysomyces, Saksenaea, Cokeromyces, Actinomucor and Syncephalastrum) species are individually responsible for <1% to 5% of reported cases of mucormycosis.

• Symptoms of rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis include: one-sided facial swelling, headache, nasal or sinus congestion, fever, black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly become more severe. Symptoms of pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis include: fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath. Symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include: abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Species coverage: 95% including genera Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, Lichtheimia, Mucor, Cunninghamella, Benjaminiella, Apophysomyces, Saksenaea, Cokeromyces, Actinomucor and Syncephalastrum
• Specimen type: serum, broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL), buccal swab in VTM, sputum, tear, body fluids or tissues
• Minimum sample volume: 200 µL of fluid samples, 200 mg wet tissue, 50 mg dry tissue
• Technology: 2-plex TaqMan PCR (one for target, other for internal control)
• Turn-around-time: 48 hrs
• Sensitivity: at least 10 copies of Mucorales DNA in a reaction
• Specificity: >=99%

Aspergillosis is a disease caused by Aspergillus, a common mold (a type of fungus) that lives indoors and outdoors. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common cause of human Aspergillosis. Other common species include A. flavus, A. terreus, and A. niger. Most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick.

• People with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing health problems due to Aspergillus. There are different types of aspergillosis like Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), Allergic Aspergillus sinusitis, Aspergilloma, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, Invasive aspergillosis and cutaneous aspergillosis.
• Species coverage: 95% including Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus,  Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus restrictus, Aspergillus glabripes, Aspergillus insolitus, Aspergillus cejpii, Aspergillus salinarum, Aspergillus atacamensis, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus salisburgensis, Aspergillus sclerotialis, Aspergillus caninus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus proliferans, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus cervinus, Aspergillus flavipes, etc.

• Specimen type: Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL), buccal swab in VTM, sputum
• Sample volume: 1mL of fluid samples, 200 mg wet tissue, 50 mg dry tissue
• Technology: 2-plex TaqMan PCR (one for target, other for internal control)
• Turn-around-time: 48 hrs
• Sensitivity: At least 10 copies of Aspergillus DNA per reaction
• Specificity:>=99%

Sample Description

Sample Description