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Fungal nail infection (onychomycosis) - Management
How to take a sample
To take samples of the abnormal nail, and any debris between the nail and nail bed:
- Wipe off any treatment creams, lotions, or powders with 70% alcohol before sampling.
- If superficial infection of the nail is suspected:
- Use a scalpel to obtain scrapings of the surface of the nail.
- If deeper infection of the nail is suspected:
- Use chiropody scissors to sample the diseased part of nail.
- When clipping the nail, include the full thickness of the nail and extend as far back from the nail tip as possible; viable fungi are most likely to be found in the most proximal part of diseased nail.
- Include scrapings of debris from the area between the nail and nail bed.
- Collect the samples into folded dark paper squares, secure with a paper clip, and place in a plastic bag. Alternatively, use a commercially available fungal specimen packet. Label the sample clearly.
- Keep the samples at room temperature; do not refrigerate them (dermatophytes die at low temperatures).
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