Tests offered in the Mycology Diagnostic Laboratory

Clinical specimens for fungal studies

1. CSF for fungal culture
2. CSF for India ink stain
3. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – corneal buttons
4. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – corneal scrapings
5. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – Biopsy specimens
6. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – sinus specimens
7. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – swabs from skin lesions
8. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – skin scrapings
9. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – nail clippings / scrapings
10. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – hair follicles / roots
11. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – BAL
12. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – sputum
13. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – bronchial washings
14. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – bronchial brushings
15. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – stools
16. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – urine
17. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – pus
18. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – sterile fluids
19. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – vaginal swabs
20. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – ear swabs
21. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – bone marrow specimens
22. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – throat swabs
23. Blood for fungal culture

Other specimens for fungal studies

1. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – environmental specimens
2. Direct microscopy & fungal culture – food specimens

Tests offered in the Mycology Reference Laboratory

Identification of culture isolates

1. Culture identification – filamentous fungi
2. Culture identification – Yeast

Antifungal sensitivity test

1. Antifungal sensitivity testing – Filamentous fungi
2. Antifungal sensitivity testing – Yeast

Serology tests – Antibody tests

1. Coccidioides IDCF antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
2. Coccidioides IDTP antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
3. Candida antibodies – Immuno-diffusion test
4. Aspergillus antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
5. Aspergillus flavus antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
6. Aspergillus fumigatus antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
7. Aspergillus niger antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
8. Aspergillus terreus antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
9. Paracoccidiodes antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
10. Histoplasma antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
11. Blastomyces antibodies – Immuno-diffusion / precipitin test
12. Candida anti mannan antibodies
13. Candida mannan antigen
14. Anti aspergillus IgG antibodies (ELISA) test
15. Total IgE (ELISA) test

Serology tests – Antigen tests

• Cryptococcal antigen test
• Aspergillus galactomannan antigen (ELISA) test
  Special staining tests
• Toluidine blue staining for Pneumocystis jirovecei
• Histopathology (special fungal stains) fungi