Fungi are organisms consisting of multiple cells organized in colonies (mycelia). To replicate they build spores. Spores are survival artists and keep their viability over prolonged time. Growth of fungi is usually slow. This slow growth is a handicap in the diagnostic using classical microbiological assays. Therefore PCR can serve with diagnostic results much faster.
Problematic for the analysis of fungi is they are inhomogeneous distribution and their relative low titer. In classical microbiology visually counting may be very person dependent. In this context PCR may also be a promising technique.
