Abstract: Objective: To explore the diagnostic value and standard of quantitative PCR(qPCR) in pulmonary candidiasis albicance in rabbits referring to pathology. Methods: New Zealand white rabbit models of pulmonary candidiasis were developed. Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. 18 rabbits were enrolled in each group and they were randomly ranked. Rabbits in the experimental group were formed by per cutem intratracheal injection of 0.2ml bacterium fluid containing 1×108 candida albicans(C.albicans). The same volume of normal saline was given in the control group. Rabbits were killed based on a sequence day by day and the pathology of the lungs was observed. Bronchi lavage fluid (BLF) was collected to determine C.albicans by qPCR. Result: If 500 C.albicans/ml was a critical value, the qPCR and pathological results had a significant consistence: sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio respectively were 71.9%, 92.5%, 83.3%, 9.59 and 0.3(P<0.001). Conclusion: The qPCR is quite consistent with pathology in diagnosis of the disease. The critical value is 500/ml.

Key words: qPCR, Pulmonary candidiasis, Animal model, Diagnosis