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Test Code LAB2550 Fungal Culture and KOH Prep for Dermatophytes

Infectious

Clinical System Name

Fungal Culture and KOH Prep for Dermatophytes

Synonyms

Dermatophytes

Tinea

LAB2550

 

 

Sample Requirements

SCH Main Campus Specimen Collection:

Hair samples should be plucked to include the root. Skin scrapings should be collected from the active border of the lesion using a sterile scalpel or a Microscope slide. Nail samples should be collected by scraping the affected area with a scalpel or clipping the infected nail area. Hair, skin, and nail samples should be sent in a sterile container without any type of transport media. It is important to collect adequate sample for best recovery of fungus. KOH will be performed when adequate sample is received.

 

Specimens collected on swabs are inferior to samples of actual hair, skin, or nails, but will be accepted if collected with a BD E-Swab.

 

Off-Site Specimen collection: Same collection methods as above.

 

Preferred Vol: N/A

Minimum Vol: N/A

 

Processing Instructions

CPA: Send sample to Microbiology for processing.

 

Off-site processing:  Fungal cultures are not set up at Off-site Children's Lab locations and should be transported to SCH Lab for testing. Samples should be received into the SCH Lab within 24 hours of collection.

 

Stability

 

Hair, Nail, Skin Scrapings
Temp Time
Room temp 7 days
Refrigerated N
Frozen N

 

 

BD ESwabs
Temp Time
Room temp 24 hours
Refrigerated Up to 48 hours
Frozen N

 

 

Availability

Procedure Performed Turn Around Time (TAT)
KOH/ Gram Stain 24/7

24 hours
Culture 24/7 4 weeks

Cultures are read at appropriate intervals to detect early growth. STAT requests are not applicable.

Performing Laboratory

Seattle Children's Laboratory

 

Department

Microbiology Laboratory

CPT Codes

87101

87220 (used when KOH prep is performed)

 

This test is not limited to the CPT codes listed.  Others may be added as more testing is necessary and depending on the pathogens isolated (such as MIC's and ID's)

Description

This culture is for isolation of the Dermatophyte Fungi which cause infections of Hair, Skin, and Nails. Testing includes both culture and direct KOH exam (depending on adequacy of specimen). 

 

Samples from sites other than hair, skin, and nails should be ordered as either Fungal Culture and KOH Prep or Culture, Screen for Yeast.

 

 

Reporting Information

Negative Preliminary Report: 24 - 48 hours

Negative Final Report: 4 weeks

 

The report will be updated and the provider will be notified if growth is detected within the 4 week incubation period. 

Notifiable Result

See Link below for Notifiable Conditions for WA state labs:

https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-healthcare-providers/notifiable-conditions

 

See Link below for PDF of phone numbers for Local Health jurisdictions (by County) in WA State:

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1200/LHJCommunicableDiseaseReporting.pdf