Detection and identification of fungal dermatophytes in keratinized tissues
Microbiology
Bacteriology
○ Hair (root ends)
○ Skin
○ Nails and nail scrapings
○ Black folded paper or sealed envelope ○ Sterile container
Hair ○ Scrape scalp and collect at least 10 broken hairs from infected area
Skin ○ Area to be sampled should be wiped with 70% alcohol to remove surface bacterial contaminants. ○ Skin lesions should be sampled from the erythematous, peripheral, actively growing margins of typical "ringworm" infections. Skin scales may be flaked off using a surgical blade or single-use toothbrush.
Nails and nail scrapings ○ Scrape away the superficial portions of the infected area with the side of a surgical blade before collecting a deeper sample. ○ Nail can be clipped or removed (if severe) and sent in a sterile container or in black folded paper in dermatophyte fungus sampling kit.
Refer to section Sample Processing / Delivery
PHOL
○ Up to 4 days for microscopy; up to 15 days for culture
416-586-4800 extension 4485
NO
○ Label specimen container and outer biohazard specimen bag with printed electronic laboratory order sticker. If using black folded paper or envelope, ensure device is sealed. Place specimens in biohazard bag, seal
○ Specimens should be stored at room temperature (20-25˚C) after collection and transported to the UHN/SH Microbiology Laboratory ASAP.
○ The specimen will be referred to the Public Health Ontario Laboratory for testing