Identification of fungal pathogens from clinical specimens using multi-locus PCR coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Abstract Polymerase chain reaction coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) was successfully used to identify a variety of fungi, including mixed fungal species, from 10 of 12 clinical specimens (10 culture-negative) of biopsy tissues or body fluids from patients with fungal infections. The application of PCR/ESI-MS for identifying fungal pathogens is discussed.