title: Rapid microscopical diagnosis of deep-seated mycoses following maceration of fresh specimens and staining with optical brighteners.
abstract: A fluorescent staining procedure, which used to be recommended for the detection of fungi in skin and nail scrapings, can be adapted for the rapid detection of fungal elements in non-sectioned biopsies or respiratory secretions. The specimens are directly stained with an optical brightener (Blankophor P flüssig, Cellufluor, Uvitex 2B) preferentially after exposure to 20% aqueous potassium hydroxide solution. The procedure can also be applied to Gram-stained microscopic mounts. The high intensity of the fluorescence elicited allows rapid microscopic screening at low magnifications.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Universität Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rüchel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Margraf
mesh_terms: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005658:Fungi / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006878:Hydroxides; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013267:Stilbenes; D014227:Triazines
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006878:Hydroxides; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D013267:Stilbenes; D014227:Triazines; C061166:fungiqual; C048787:cellufluor; C029943:potassium hydroxide