Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Hair
1. Epilate hair individually, picking apparently infected hair. If hair breaks off at scalp level, use sterile scalpel blade or other pointed instrument to work hair root to scalp.
2. Submit hair in a screw-capped, sterile container.
3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note: 1. Specimen source is required.
2. See Microbiology in Special Instructions.
Nail
1. Cleanse affected area with alcohol.
2. Using a sterile scalpel blade, collect scraping from peripheral margin of cutaneous lesion or from involved portion of nail on edge of a clean, glass slide. When dealing with a suspected nail infection, always try to include scraping from underside of nail.
3. Submit collected material between clean glass slide, in an envelope, or any clean container. Two clean glass slides held together with tape or rubber bands is also acceptable.
4. Label slide/container with patient’s name (first and last), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note: 1. Specimen source is required.
2. See Microbiology in Special Instructions.
Skin Scraping
1. Cleanse affected area with alcohol.
2. Using a sterile scalpel blade, collect scraping from peripheral margin of cutaneous lesion on a clean, glass slide.
3. Submit collected material between clean glass slide, in an envelope, or any clean container. Two clean glass slides held together with tape or rubber bands is also acceptable.
4. Label slide/container with patient’s name (first and last), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note: 1. Specimen source is required.
2. See Microbiology in Special Instructions.
87077-Aerobic isolate (if appropriate)