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Test Code SKC Skin Fungus Culture

Specimen Type

Skin scrapings, exudates, nail clippings, whole nail, debris under nail, or hair.

Preferred Collection Container

STL-CUP

Collection Volume

As much as possible

Minimum Collection Volume

As much as possible

Collection Instructions

Skin scraping in suspected cases of ringworm or Tinea infections should be collected at the outer periphery or border of the lesions or involved area. Pluck fluorescent hairs or nonfluorescent hairs which are broken off and appear diseased with sterile forceps. If diseased hair stubs are not apparent, scrape the edges of a scalp lesion with a sterile scalpel. In case of nail infection, scrape off the friable material beneath the edge of the nails or clip off portions of the abnormal appearing nails. Careful choice of specimens for laboratory study is important. A Wood’s lamp is useful in the collection of specimens in tinea capitis infections, since hairs infected by most members of the genus Microsporum frequently exhibit fluorescence under a Wood’s lamp. However, in tinea capitis due to Trichophyton species, infected hairs usually do not fluoresce.

Rejection Criteria

Specimen on outside of container; Incomplete requisition; Unlabelled specimen.

Specimens must be properly labelled with the patient’s name, hospital identification number, time and date of collection, and initials of person collecting specimen.

Specimen Storage and Stability

<24 hours at room temperature

Turn Around Time

Preliminary results available at one week. Cultures held 4 weeks for final report.

Lab Department

Microbiology

Alias

Skin Fungus Culture; Fungus Culture, Skin; Dermatophyte Fungus Culture; Nail Fungus Culture; Hair Fungus Culture;

Ordering Info

CULTURE INCLUDES:
Fungal smear(KOH/Calcofluor Prep).

EPIC Code

LAB1294

Acceptable Collection Container

Sterile petri dish; sterile specimen container.

Patient Preparation

Cleanse skin lesions first with 70% alcohol to reduce bacteria and saprophytic fungi.

Additional Information

A single negative specimen does not rule out fungal infection. If infection with mycobacteria or aerobic organisms cannot be excluded clinically, a separate culture should be submitted as indicated.

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Specimens are to be collected by lab pathologist. Call Lab Customer Service department to schedule an appointment (419) 291-4134.