Laboratory methods for flucytosine (5-fluorocytosine)

Methods for flucytosine (5-fluorocytosine) were the primary concern of the Working Group set up by the British Society for Mycopathology to consider laboratory methods for antifungal agents. The methods set forth here are similar to many in the literature, but they have been tested by the laboratories of all members of the Group for practicality and consistency, and possible variables (such as inoculum, growth phase of culture, etc.) have been investigated. They are designed for any microbiology laboratory with the expertise and equipment to assay antibacterials. Few special reagents, media, etc. are required, and these few are used for all the methods given here. The methods are given in detail so that they may be set up at once without preliminary work, although experience may be necessary for reliable results in assays.