Skin Scrapings, Hair, Nail Clippings

Sterile container

0700-1500, 7 days a week, including holidays.

2 hours (upon receipt in laboratory)

This test is performed on all fungal culture requests. It can also be ordered as an individual test. It is used when looking for fungi in skin, hair, nails, body fluids and other clinical specimens.

Specimen will not be accepted if in saline or other liquid, in gauze or cotton, or on swabs. If transport is delayed, refrigerate specimen.

Microscopic slide examination

Nails:
1. Remove nail polish.
2. Wipe nail with 70% alcohol prep pad.
3. Clip a generous portion of the affected area and collect scrapings
   of the excess keratin produced under the nail.
4. Place in sterile labeled container.

Skin:
1. If a dermatophyte "ring" is present on the skin, collect samples
   from the outer margin of the ring at its junction with the normal
   skin. Otherwise, collect scaling skin.
2. Gently scrape the surface of the skin at the active margin of the
   lesion with a slide or scalpel.
3. Place scrapings between two clean glass slides, wrap securely and
   place in sterile labeled container.

Hair:
1. Collect affected hair and place in sterile labeled container.

Prep is only made by laboratory after a specimen is received.

Label transport tube with two patient identifiers, date and time of collection.
Specimen should be collected and packaged as close to shipping time as possible.
Submit in sterile transport container.
Indicate specimen/fluid type on requisition.
Maintain sterility and forward promptly to lab.

Refrigerate up to 24 hours.

Coolant packs up to 8 hours.
Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Recommend early AM overnight shipping or equivalent if not on courier service.