FUNGUS/CRYPTOCOCCUS/CANDIDA CULTURE

​Swab, pus, tissue, blood, CSF, skin scraping, nail clipping, hair.

For:
a. skin scraping; scrape the active border with the blunt edge of a scalpel.
b. nail clippings; scrape the infected tissue underneath the nail.
c. Hair; get representative abnormal hair, removed with forceps, and including some scalp scales obtained by scraping.

Note: Stool should not sent. Only stool collected from immunocompromised inpatients showing signs and symptoms compatible with invasive fungal disease will be accepted.

​Blood should be sent in fungal blood culture medium which will be supplied on request.

Skin scraping for dermatophyte isolation may be sent in a sterile container or sandwiched between two glass clean slides.

​Culture

​Organism reported; No fungal growth

​1 - 6 weeks

​Monday - Saturday

​Please indicate if a specific pathogen is being sought e.g. Cryptococcus, Candida, Histoplasma.