Rapid diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis using calcofluor white
K. R. Wilhelmus, M. S. Osato, R. L. Font, N. M. Robinson and D. B. Jones
Calcofluor white (CFW) is a chemofluorescent dye with an affinity for the
polysaccharide polymers of amebic cysts. Using CFW staining with
fluorescent microscopy, we demonstrated amebic cysts in corneal scrapings
and keratectomy specimens from four patients with culture-proved
Acanthamoeba keratitis and from one in whom CFW was the only positive
laboratory test. Calcofluor white staining is simple, rapid, and highly
reliable in the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
