Fungal Stain (KOH slide)
Test Code
RKOH
Description
The potassium hydroxide (KOH) stain is used for the microscopic detection for fungal elements directly from specimens. It provides a rapid screen for the presence of fungi, but culture has increased sensitivity and should be performed on these specimens for complete identification of the organism.
Collect
Abscess: Clean the skin with 70% alcohol. Collect with syringe. If the abscess is open, a swab can be used if necessary.
Bone marrow: Collected in heparinized syringe or lysis-centrifugation tube.
Bronchoscopy: Collected via procedure in sterile container.
Hair: Remove a few hair follicles with tweezers. Collect loose hair with comb. Place in sterile container.
Nail: Clip or scrape the nail into a sterile container.
Non-sterile fluid: Collected via aspiration into sterile container.
Scalp: Gently scrape the infected area into a sterile container.
Skin: Disinfect area with 70% alcohol. Obtain from the edge of the lesion. Place in sterile container.
Sinus: Aspiration. Swabs are not acceptable.
Sputum: First morning sputum in sterile container.
Sterile fluid: Collected via procedure pertaining to given site into sterile container.
Tissue: Clean skin with 70% alcohol. Collect tissue from the peripheral edge of the lesion, place in sterile container.
Urine: Clean-catch, suprapubic aspiration, or catheter in sterile container
Unacceptable Conditions
- Specimens received outside of temperature storage requirements
- Specimens received outside of stability time frame
- Specimens that do not meet the minimum volume requirement
- Swabs
- Specimens in non-sterile containers
- Any container with preservatives (except for bone marrow)
- Specimens from a source not acceptable for this testing
- Specimens that are excessively leaking
- Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen (exception with attestation for specimens from irretrievable source)
Stability
|
Performed
7 days a week from 8am to 6pm
Methodology
Conventional light microscopy of a specimen. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is used to dissolve cellular material.
Turnaround Time
28 days
Department
Microbiology Lab
Study Offerings
CAP/CLIA
Related Tests
Mycology culture, yeast identification, mold identification
Reference Interval
No yeast or fungal elements seen
Interpretation
- Budding yeast seen
- Septate hyphae seen
- Aseptate hyphae seen
- Yeast with pseudohyphae seen
CPT Code
87102
New York Approved
Standard
FDA
Standard Method