title: Trapped in keratin; a comparison of dermatophyte detection in nail, skin and hair samples directly from clinical samples using culture and real-time PCR.
abstract: Traditionally, laboratory detection and identification of dermatophytes consists of culture and microscopy which yields results within approximately 2-6 weeks. In 2007 our medical microbiological diagnostic laboratory implemented a molecular method for the detection of dermatophytes. A real-time PCR assay was developed which simultaneously detects and identifies the most prevalent dermatophytes directly in nail, skin and hair samples and has a turnaround time of less than two days. For 1437 clinical samples, received by our diagnostic laboratory, we compared the results obtained from both culture and real-time PCR. This study showed that real-time PCR significantly increased the detection rate of dermatophytes compared to culture. Furthermore, excellent concordance between culture and real-time PCR identification was achieved.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Department of Research and Development, Groningen, The Netherlands. g.wisselink@infectielab.nl
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wisselink
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Zanten
authors.forename: A M D
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kooistra-Smid
mesh_terms: D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006197:Hair / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods*; D009262:Nails / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors