Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:

Hair, nail, or skin scraping

Hair

1. With forceps, collect at least 10 to 12 affected hairs with bases of shafts intact. Place in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), specimen source, and date and time of collection.

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

Nail

1. Wipe nail with 70% alcohol. Clip away generous portion of affected area, and collect material or debris from under nail. Place material in screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), specimen source, and date and time of collection.

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

Skin Scraping

1. Clean affected area with 70% alcohol. Gently scrape surface of skin at active margin of lesion. Place skin scraping (should be about enough to cover heal of thumbtack) in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), specimen source, and date and time of collection.

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