Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Hair
1. Collect at least 10 to 12 hairs from base of shaft in infected area in a screw-capped, sterile tube or Petri dish.

2. Label tube/Petri dish with patient’s name (first and last), hospital identification number or date of birth, date and time of collection, and source of specimen.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note: Specimen source is required.

Nail
1. Wipe nail with 70% alcohol.
2. Scrape outer surface of nail and discard.
3. Collect scraping from deeper, diseased areas of nail and place in a screw-capped, sterile container.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), hospital identifiation number or date of birth, date and time of collection,and source of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note: Specimen source is required.

Skin Scraping
1. Clean skin with 70% alcohol.
2. Scrape advancing edge of lesion and send in a screw-capped, sterile container or Petri dish.

3. Label container/Petri dish with patient’s name (first and last), hospital identification number or date of birth, date and time of specimen collection, and source of specimen.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note: Specimen source is required.