Diagnostic methods in candidemia: a systematic review of literature with meta-analysisCandidemia is a disease with high morbidity and mortality especially in critical care patients.Early diagnosis enables early treatment.Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of the literature in order to establish the best laboratory tests for the diagnosis of candidemia in critical patients.Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review of available literature in PubMed.Serological studies were subjected to meta-analysis in metadisk-Beta 1.1.1.Results: 4 studies of 1286 reviewed were included.Three were about serological tests and one about molecular testing (RT-PCR).The sensitivity and specifi city for RT-PCR, antibody testing and antigen and antibody tests were 87% and 100%, 47.5% and 82.6%, 96% and 81%, respectively.Diagnostic Odds Ratio of antigenemia was 1.51 (95% CI = 0,032-70,964, p = 0.001).Conclusions: RT-PCR has better diagnostic performance, measuring antigenemia plus antibodies improves sensitivity, specifi city, LR + and LR-¬.There is insuffi cient evidence to support this.