title: Routine periodic acid-Schiff staining of nail plate fragments in fungal cultures for onychomycosis: a method to increase the sensitivity of diagnosis.
abstract: We propose the routine staining of nail plate fragments with periodic acid-Schiff stain to increase diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing onychomycosis. The advantages of this method, including increasing diagnostic yield after contaminant growth, confirmation of negative culture, and low cost, are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Diagnostic Clinic, 805 Medical Center Dr, Longview, TX 75605, USA.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Zabawski
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Styles
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cockerell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009262:Nails / Q000382:microbiology*; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction / Q000191:economics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity