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Fungal culture, skin scraping
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Test Name:
Fungal culture, skin scraping
Synonyms:
Dermatophyte NAT
Organism(s)/Disease(s):
Dermatomycosis
Dermatophyte
Pityriasis versicolor (Dermatomycosis)
Ringworm (Dermatomycosis)
Tinea corporis
Tinea infection (fungal)
Body Source(s):
Skin scraping
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 treatment failure or 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)
•  Suspicion of infection due to a yeast (eg., Malassezia, Candida, Trichosporon)
   or non-dermatophyte mold (eg., Scopulariopsis, Neoscytalidium)

Collection Device/Tube Type:
Fungal collection kit (envelope contains folded black manila paper)
Specimen Requirement(s):
Minimum volume:  collect at least 15 flakes of skin
Collection Instructions:
Skin scrapings
  1.  Wipe the lesion(s) with 70% alcohol
  2. Scrape the margin of the lesion with a sterile scalpel
  3. Place the scraping in the black paper provided in the fungal collection kit
    • Scrapings must be clearly visible
    • Do not use plastic containers or swabs
  4. Use a paper clip to secure the black, folded paper
  5. Place it in the envelope supplied in the collection kit

Handling and Storage:
Room temperature
Rejection Criteria:
  • Mislabelled or unlabelled specimen/requisition
  • Scrapings received on a swab in transport medium
  • Plastic container in which the skin scrapings cannot be seen

    • Turnaround Times
    See Microbiology Information»
    Comments:
    Testing in Edmonton (samples from Edmonton, Central, and North Zones) is done by direct microscopy and standard culture-based methods.

    Testing in Calgary (samples from Calgary and South Zone) is primarily done by nucleic acid amplification (NAT) methods and includes:

    1. A Pan-dermatophyte polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening assay targeting the 5.8S/ITS2 region of the fungal genome.
      • This test was developed and validated by APL Microbiology at the Diagnostic & Scientific Centre
      • Compared to standard culture-based detection of dermatophytes, this test has a greater than 95% sensitivity and 97.4% specificity
    2. A commercial multiplex PCR assay for confirmatory species identification on Pan-Dermatophyte PCR positive samples when required
    3. Direct microscopy and standard culture-based methods are still used for detection and identification of non-dermatophyte yeasts and molds when required.

    Turnaround Times:
    Culture:  3-4 weeks
    Dermatophyte NAT:  less than 7 days





    Last Reviewed:
    20 October 2025
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