Fungal Stain

Test Code

8627

CPT Codes
87220 (skin, hair, or nails); 87206 (other than skin, hair, or nails)

Preferred Specimen

Raw specimen, any clinical source other than stool.
Air-dried smears prepared from any clinical specimen other than stool.

Minimum Volume

One prepared slide or any amount of material

Other Acceptable Specimens

Specimen submitted on a rayon, Dacron, calcium alginate or flocked nylon culture swab in bacterial transport medium.

Transport Container

Sterile container for raw specimens • Slides submitted in slide carrier

Transport Temperature

Slides and gel or liquids swab: Room temperature
Raw specimens: Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

Skin, hair or nails
Room temperature: 14 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: Unacceptable

Swab in transport media and air dried smear
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

Fluid, bronchial lavage or sputum
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Broken slides or smears too thick to read • Smears fixed with Cytology fixative • Slides previously stained by Cytology and cover slipped • Excessively bloody samples • DNA probe transport device • Viral transport medium • Stool specimens • Corneal rim • Bone • Catheter tips

Methodology
Calcofluor White Stain • Microscopic Examination • Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)

Setup Schedule

Mon-fri

Report Available

3 days

Reference Range

Fungal Smear

None seen

Clinical Significance

This examination can provide the physician with early information regarding the possible need for antifungal treatment.

Performing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics-Pittsburgh Lab

875 Greentree Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15220-3508

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.