Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Hair

Specimen must arrive within 72 hours of collection.

1. With forceps, collect 10 to 12 hairs with shaft intact.

2. Also scrape active borders of lesions, if present.

3. Send specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.
4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

Nails

Specimen must arrive within 72 hours of collection.

1. Disinfect nail with 70% alcohol, clip affected areas, and collect debris under nail.

2. Send specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.
3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.

Skin

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

1. Disinfect skin with 70% alcohol, scrape surface of skin at margin of lesion.

2. Punch biopsies may be used for skin lesions.
3. Send specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.
4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  Specimen source and suspected fungal species are required on request form for processing.