Mycology
This page contain information on sample collection for mycotic diseases.
- The affected area of skin should be washed with 70% alcohol,
scrapings taken from the active border area and placed in a sterile
container. The basal portion of the hair or hair stubble should be
plucked out with forceps and submitted as well.
- Exudates or tissues for culture should be collected aseptically,
refrigerated, and sent to the laboratory on ice packs. Hair and skin
scrapings for dermatophyte isolation should be shipped dry at room
temperature, between glass slides or in a paper envelope.
- Isolation and identification of mycotic agents may require 30 days
or longer for some organisms.
- WADDL does not presently have the capability to conduct serology for
mycotic disease. Samples can be referred to appropriate diagnostic
laboratories.
- We will routinely culture and identify samples from suspected
aspergillosis, candidiasis, cryptococcosis, dermatomycosis,
mucormycosis, mycotic abortion, and sporothricosis. Please inform us if
blastomycosis, coccidiodomycosis, or histoplasmosis is suspected so that
proper precautions can be taken in the laboratory. It is strongly
recommended that tissues be submitted for histopathology rather than
mycology in the initial evaluation of these cases. Call the laboratory
for assistance if culture for these organisms is needed.
