A PCR assay for the diagnosis of infection produced by Candida sp. was developed. The primers, designated 520 and 522, were selected from highly-conserved areas of the small subunit (ssu) 18S rRNA gene of Candida spp. To check the value of the results a Candida albicans oligonucleotide probe, digoxigenin-labeled, and a general Candida probe were used in hybridization experiments with the amplified products. We were able to detect a Candida- specific fragment of 1800 bp from different clinical samples. The procedure described could provide an interesting complement to present diagnostic methods of detecting Candida sp in clinical samples.