CUFUN – “Culture, Fungus, Skin, Hair or Nails”

Update to specimen preparation, minimum volume, rejection criteria, and stability.

Specimen Preparation: Remove hairs with forceps, scrape skin or scalp scales, clip nails and include keratin scrapings. Cleanse skin with alcohol before scraping. Cleanse feet and hands before collecting nails. Refrigeration is not recommended because it can inhibit dermatophytes. 

Minimum Volume: No minimum volume

Rejection Criteria: No rejection criteria 

Stability:

Hair, skin and nail specimens:
Room temperature: 14 days
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable

Transport swabs:
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable