Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group
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2026 OMIG Abstract

Analysis of Intraocular Fluid Specimens Using the (1→3)-β-D-Glucan Assay for the Rapid Detection of Fungal Endophthalmitis

Aaishwariya Gulani¹, Darlene Miller², and Terrence P. O'Brien²

¹Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee;
and ²Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida

Purpose: Fungal endophthalmitis is a vision-threatening condition. Conventional culture methods are slow with typically lower yield of culture growth leading to a delay of appropriate antifungal therapy. (1→3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) is an established serum biomarker for invasive fungal infection. BDG testing has recently been extended to ocular surface fluid with the use of a commercial assay (Fungitell) evaluating tear samples. Performance in intraocular fluid is less well studied. This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of the Fungitell assay with intraocular fluid, hypothesizing that BDG levels are elevated in fungal endophthalmitis relative to controls.

Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was performed on in vitro vitreous humor samples obtained during diagnostic procurement. The initial cohort consisted of 12 samples: 5 negative controls and 7 cases of culture confirmed fungal endophthalmitis. The samples were tested in duplicate with the Fungitell assay.

Results: Preliminary results yielded high positivity levels (>50,000 pg/mL) in all cultures obtained from intraocular fluid of fungal endophthalmitis cases and negative levels for the control group (<31 pg/mL). Additional testing with further dilutions are in process to characterize concentrations and to determine diagnostic standards.

Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that BDG measurement in intraocular fluid can potentially be used as a rapid adjunctive diagnostic method for detection of fungal endophthalmitis.