title: The Use of Adhesive Tapes to Transfer Skin-scrapings for Sequential Laboratory Diagnosis of Dermatophytosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatophytosis usually causes a skin problem, which requires both clinical findings and laboratory investigations for diagnosis. Whereas, fungal culture is considered as the gold standard procedure, it is more difficult to perform compared to potassium hydroxide（KOH）examination.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of KOH and fungal culture examinations from skin-scraping specimens, which were kept in transparent adhesive tapes at different time intervals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin-scraping specimens were collected from clinically suspected cases by conventional technique using scalpel blades and kept using transparent adhesive tapes. KOH（10%）preparation and fungal cultures were then performed by highly experienced technicians at different time intervals: day 0（the day of specimen collection, which was set as the standard reference point）, day 3 or 4, day 7, day 14, and day 28. Thereafter, the yield for detection of fungal elements by KOH examination and positive fungal cultures from specimens stored in adhesive tape was determined at different time intervals and compared to the results from the standard reference point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of KOH exami-nations from 162 patients at different time intervals showed no significant difference when compared to the standard reference point at day 0. In contrast, the sensitivity of fungal culture progressively decreased as the storage period was prolonged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KOH examination of skin-scrapings from the adhesive tape storage technique yield good results even when specimens have been kept up to one month. On the other hand, the sensitivity of fungal cultures gradually declines as storage time is extended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University.
authors.forename: Supapat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bunyaratavej
authors.forename: Penvadee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pattanaprichakul
authors.forename: Charussri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leeyaphan
authors.forename: Chuda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rujitharanawong
authors.forename: Chanai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muanprasart
authors.forename: Lalita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matthapan
authors.forename: Sumanas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bunyaratavej
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000368:Aged; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006878:Hydroxides; D008297:Male; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D053832:Surgical Tape / Q000382:microbiology*; D014005:Tinea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D006878:Hydroxides; D017680:Potassium Compounds; C029943:potassium hydroxide