RICE EXTRACT AGAR

Rice Extract Agar is used for the identification and promotion of chlamydospores formation by Candida albicans and C. stellatoides. Taschdjian developed this medium to aid in the identification of Candida species producing chlamydospores, the differentiating positive species from other Candida species. It has been shown by Kelly and Funigiello and Waker and Huppert that the addition of tween 80 (Polysorbate 80) to Rice Extract Agar enhances the formation of chlamydospores by C. albicans. However, tween 80 also favored chlamydospores formation in other Candida species, therefore its use necessitated employing further media for species identification.
Rice Extract Agar with 2% dextrose may be used to promote chromogenesis (pigment formation) and, therefore, is helpful in distinguishing Trichophyton rubrum from Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Inoculate by cutting through the surfaces of the agar with the inoculation wire.

for identi?cation of Candida albicans by means of its chlamydospore production