title: Evaluation of a newly-developed immunochromatography strip test for diagnosing dermatophytosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditionally, dermatophytosis, a common disease affecting millions of people world-wide, has been diagnosed by direct microscopy and fungal culture. The immunochromatography (ICG) strip test was recently developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the performance of the ICG strip test for the detection of dermatophytes in samples from human skin and nails with direct microscopy. The 160 samples, consisting of 88 skin and 72 nail specimens, were subjected to direct microscopy study using a 20% KOH solution and to examination with the ICG strip test. Of 160 samples, 18 were examined by fungal culture using Sabouraud dextrose agar medium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the overall sensitivity and specificity of the ICG test were 83.5% and 66.7%; they were 82.1% and 76.2% for the 88 skin and 85.4% and 58.3% for the 72 nail specimens, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that the efficacy of the ICG test is comparable to direct microscopy for the detection of dermatophytes. Performance of the assay was easy, and results were available quickly. We suggest that it is an effective tool for dermatophytosis screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan. higashiy@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: Hayao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saruwatari
authors.forename: Hidemichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Ikuyo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Youhei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wakamoto
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takasaki
authors.forename: Hisaya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Sakon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noriki
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanekura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014005:Tinea / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011934:Reagent Strips