Fungal culture, hair
- Test Name:
- Fungal culture, hair
- Organism(s)/Disease(s):
-
Dermatomycosis
Dermatophyte
Ringworm (Dermatomycosis)
Tinea capitis
Tinea infection (fungal)
- Body Source(s):
-
Hair
-
Clinical Prerequisite(s):
-
Provision of relevant, clinical information is important to ensure a clinically relevant result
Always provide/record:
• specimen source - anatomical site and type
• current anti-fungal therapy and start date
• relevant clinical history
• travel history
• Is there a history of recurrent disease?
• Are there any predisposing factors? (e.g. contact with known case, close animal contact,
impaired cell-mediated immunity, HIV, steroid therapy, post transplant, diabetes, local trauma)
- Collection Device/Tube Type:
-
Fungal collection kit (envelope contains folded black manila paper)
- Comments:
-
Cleaning of the scalp is not required
- Select infected area. Use forceps to pull out (epilate) at least 10 hairs. DO NOT submit cut hair (fungal infection is closer to the base)
- Fold black paper from the fungal collection kit, around the hairs
- Secure the folded, black paper with a paper clip and place it in the envelope supplies
- Alternately, a sterile container can be used in place of the paper
- Handling and Storage:
-
Room temperature
- Rejection Criteria:
-
- Mislabelled or unlabelled specimen/requisition
- Skin scrapings received on a swab in transport medium
- Plastic container in which the skin scrapings cannot be seen
- Turnaround Times
- See Microbiology Information»
- Last Reviewed:
- 06 May 2023
