Culture, Fungus Skin

Performed in the Microbiology Laboratory x65785
Indicate on requisition if high suspicion of Histoplasma, Coccidioides, or Blastomyces.
Order KOH prep (Test code = KOH) for microscopic examination for keratinous material such as tissue or nails.
Culturing for Malassezia in patients with suspected pityriasis versicolor or patients receiving prolonged intravenous lipids is not recommended and is not often successful. However, if desired, please notifiy laboratory. Additional media is added to attempt to isolate Malassezia species.

CFNS

Fungus, Culture Skin

Fungal culture onto a range of media to include identification of dermatophytes as well as systemic fungi, and exclude environmental saphrophytes. (Includes reflex to full identification of each significant pathogenic mould CPT code 87107 or significant quantities of pathogenic yeast CPT code 87106)

Hair, nail and skin scrapings.

Hair/Nails: After selecting infected area, remove at least 10 hairs and scrape scalp scales if present, scrape infected nail area, or clip infected nail.
Skin: Disinfect the skin surface with 70% alcohol. Collect specimen from the edge of the lesion.

Other: swabs are discouraged unless not readily collected by other means

Sterile specimen cup with screw-cap.
Culture Swab.

Room Temperature

Inoculated agar must be in lab within 30 minutes.

Test performed Sunday through Saturday 6am- 11pm

Cultures overgrown with saphrohytic fungic may prevent identifiation of pathogenic moulds or yeast.

No Growth