Candida Tests, Get it Right the First Time

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Candida Tests Available to You | Medical Review by Dr. Rana | Candida Test Questions

Updated 10/30/2024

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Vibhuti Rana, PhD - Written by Dan Jackowiak Nc, HHP

Dr. Vibhuti Rana, PhD says... The information below is medically correct with respect to the available candida tests for evaluating the extent of Candida yeast infections.

I strongly recommend you do one of these candida tests because Candida yeast infections are one of the most over self-diagnosed conditions existing today. Many people in a search for what is wrong with them will attribute all their symptoms to Candida yeast. The symptoms of true Candida yeast infection can cover such a wide range of symptoms that it will seem to fit each of their situations. So this misdiagnosis is completely understandable.

At times, harmful or bad bacteria, or even parasites can be wrongly interpreted as yeast. The best way to effectively treat these problems is different than treating yeast infections.

This is also very helpful because certain species of yeast respond to certain prescription drugs and natural compounds better than others.

Candida glabrata for instance is another Candida species that infects men and women in 25% to 35% of cases and is resistant to the drug Diflucan. However, it responds well to topical flucytosine, topical boric acid, or one of the Echinocandins.

Other species can also cause vaginal yeast infections and each strain may respond better to certain drugs while being resistant to others. Candida testing can sort this out for you; so you will be prescribed the right prescription drug the first time and not create the dreaded monster of drug resistant yeast.

Note: I must add that if you treat your yeast infection by prescription means, it is recommended that you limit sugar and carbohydrate consumption and take a probiotic for a few months, to have to restore the body to sound health in order to prevent any reinfection.

What Candida Tests Are Available to You?

Cultures

Your doctor or ob-gyn can perform this very common Candida test. During a full blown vaginal yeast infection, they can take a culture to determine if you are infected. Your infection can be identified by microscopic examination of your vaginal smear sample for yeast. These cultures can also be sent to a lab to identify the precise species and to find the most effective medications to be used against the particular species infecting you.

These tests can be done with skin infections but care must be taken to not cut the skin and allow the yeast to get into the blood stream. If the yeast does invade the blood stream, it can result in life-threatening conditions, depending upon the species.

Candida Antibody Blood Test

This test requires a small volume blood sample for checking possible Candida yeast infection by measuring antibodies circulating in the blood. The most accurate blood test is to have them measure all three antibodies, that way you have an idea where it is.

IgM antibodies will tell you if you have an infection right now or not.

IgG antibodies will show a past or ongoing infection.

IgA antibodies will reflect a more superficial infection or an infection that is on the outside surface of the mucosal linings of the body.

However, if you have Candida in your gut and not anywhere else this test can be inconclusive.

Invasive Candida Test

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), invasive candidiasis testing is done by taking a blood sample that is sent to a lab to see if it will grow Candida in a culture. You will need to see a doctor to get this done.

Intestinal Candida Tests

The preferred Candida test for intestinal yeast is a stool test along with the blood antibody test that can be ordered through the links below to check for good bacteria and yeast ratio. Many times people lack an entire species of bacteria and this is the main cause of their problems. At other times, their levels are very low and this could also be an issue. Low or non-existent bacterial content in the gut are a major cause of chronic yeast infections.

However, Candida glabrata can live right alongside good bacteria because it does not attach to the intestinal wall. Candida albicans, on the other hand, does attach itself, and good bacteria generally crowds it out so it is important to know these levels if you're not having any success getting rid of it. Stool tests are usually able to detect the species as well.

Genova Diagnostics does a test called Comprehensive Stool Test with Parasitology, that checks for yeasts, good and bad bacteria, parasites and other factors related to digestion by assessing the total gut microbiome. It also tests to see what kills any pathogens that are found.

Doctors Data does one called a Comprehensive Stool Analysis that also checks for parasites and uses three samples so it is very accurate. The Doctor’s Data test will also run a drug susceptibility profiling on any yeast or bacterial pathogens they detect. The susceptibility test will determine what natural compounds and which drugs will kill that specific species of yeast or bad bacteria.

Another much lower cost option is a Verisana Stool Test. They don't test to see what kills the pathogens detected but the test is very complete and would tell you if you do have intestinal yeast or not. It will also tell you the levels of good bacteria levels as well as the presence of any pathogenic species in your gut.

If yeast was detected using any of these stool test results, you could simply do my Complete Cure System. If no yeast is detected and it turns out to be a bad bacteria issue, you could follow the Harmful Bacteria Protocol... pretty simple!

Organic Acids Candida Test

This all-inclusive test is an OK Candida test that also checks 40 other metabolic functions of cellular physiology. This test also measures compromised energy production, neurotransmitter metabolism, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and intestinal dysbiosis. Intestinal dysbiosis measures the metabolic byproducts of bacteria and yeast that are excreted in urine. High tartaric readings indicate an overgrowth of yeast in the body. It also measures amino acid needs relative to your health status, genetic tendencies, aging, and oxidative status.

Clinically these markers offer valuable insight into the possible causative factors of dysfunctional cellular physiology; affecting one’s physical and mental performance and overall health status. This test is invaluable for putting one’s cellular health back together and getting to the root cause of your Candida yeast infection so you get it under control for life.

However, the Organic Acids Candida test would not be my first choice because it does not check for yeast itself, it only checks for its waste or the byproducts, which could be inconclusive.

The Candida Spit Test

This is not a valid test to detect candida yeast over growth. It was invented by Global Health Trax to sell Threelac, Fivelac, Oxygen Elements, and Active Enzymes.

Many times this test is showing that you simply have to much mucous in your body, which is often caused by inflammation or the consumption of mucous producing foods like dairy. This is not an ideal situation either and should be addressed.

This test has no basis in medical science as far as yeast goes, it's totally bogus.

Candida Questionnaire

The candida yeast questionnaire is simply a series of questions about your health history and symptoms that produces a score at the end. A score above 150 will pretty much confirm dysbiosis, which is a contributor to candida and 96% of irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis cases.

Food Allergy Blood Test

I've added this link to a selection of Food Allergy tests because sometimes instead of yeast, this is the problem. True food allergies are defined as the production of antibodies in the host against certain foods that the individual is allergic too. These allergies can be mistaken for colds or even give you a cold over time as the immune system wears out from the constant battle of expelling these toxic substances from your body. Other symptoms can include fatigue, headache, anxiety, itchy runny nose, and puffy eyelids. The allergies that cause these symptoms may go unrecognized for years.

Food allergies can lead to arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune disease, eczema and migraines in certain individuals. These chronic illnesses take years to develop but the result is always the same.

These tests usually screen for 100's of different foods that are typical of the standard American diet. There are also vegetarian tests and many of the tests can be ordered with Environmental Pollutants added as well.

If you find you're allergic to a wide range of foods you probably have leaky gut syndrome and will need to address it.

Medical Review by Dr. Vibhuti Rana, PhD

More than often, the yeast infections could be wrongly diagnosed, especially in case of women. For instance, symptoms like redness, itching, burning in the vaginal area may be wrongly interpreted as Candida infection, when in reality it could be bacterial or viral infection like vaginal herpes. This, and other yeast infections, therefore, must be most importantly diagnosed right. Dr. Patricia Sulak, M.D., a board certified OB/GYN and professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine clearly says that undergoing yeast-specific tests and avoiding over the counter medication (OTC) would solve half of the problem. (1)

Another report published in Annals of Emergency Medicine by Dr. Jean Abbot, MD, FACEP has discussed the use of direct microscopic analysis for determination of yeast vaginitis. (2)

According to Yera et al. from the Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, France, serological examination of at-risk patients by the Platelia Candida tests could result in timely initiation of antifungal therapy, especially when used in conjunction with blood cultures. (3) Most of the invasive tests for Candida infections are done using anti-candidal antibodies, as reported by Chakrabarty et al. from Chandigarh, India.(4)

Finally, a combination of culture-based, clinical, and enzymatic tests will be helpful in diagnosis deep seated candidiasis caused by different species of Candida yeast. Tests like those mentioned in the article comprehensively check the microbial balance in the gut, skin, or mucous to provide an accurate diagnosis of what is actually occurring in the patient. These tests can also reveal the true identity of the infection - whether it is fungal, bacterial, parasitic, viral, or simply an allergenic reaction.

1. Texas A&M University. "Is it okay to 'tough out' a yeast infection? Self-diagnosing below the belt isn't always a smart decision." ScienceDaily, 8 March 2016.
2. Abbott J: Clinical and microscopic diagnosis of vaginal yeast infection: A prospective analysis. Ann Emerg Med May 1995;25:587-591.
3. Yera, H., Sendid, B., Francois, N. et al. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis (2001) 20: 864.
4. Chakrabarti, A., Roy, P., Kumar, D. et al. Evaluation of three serological tests for detection of anti-candidal antibodies in diagnosis of invasive candidiasis. Mycopathologia 126, 3–7 (1994) doi:10.1007/BF01371166c.

Have Any Questions About These Candida Tests?

Do you have any questions about these Candida tests or yeast infections in general? Ask your question here or contact us using the contact page of this website. It is also always a good idea to talk to your doctor as well.

Questions From Other Visitors

Click below to see questions from other visitors to this page...

Can you have Candida or other fungus but it not show up on sputum testing?
Eight years ago I had whitish tongue and small skin rash on my upper lip with extreme dry lip. I followed the Candida diet and treatments and it went away …

Do you have a referral list for doctors that specialize in Candida yeast infections?
Hello, I have been dealing with Candida for over 40 years with limited success. The strain I am struggling with currently has clearly mutated beyond what …

Is stool testing ok while on the low carb Candida diet?
I’m going to have the Genova Diagnostics targeted stool test. Should I continue to remain on my low carb Candida/SIBO diet for the test, or should I be …

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