A fungus wet prep is routinely performed on respiratory specimens and pleural fluids submitted on fungus culture. Only order this test if a fungus wet prep is desired and:
- A non-respiratory specimen is also being submitted for fungus culture.
- A fungus culture is not being ordered.
Swabs:
- ESwab: collect one swab for Gram stain, aerobic and anaerobic cultures, and an additional swab for each additional culture type or stain (e.g. fungus or mycobacteria).
- Other Amies medium swab types: collect one swab for every culture and stain (including Gram) to be ordered.
Specimens should be collected in sterile leakproof containers without preservatives. Swab-collected specimens and fecal specimens are NOT recommended. One swab in Amies or Stuarts transport medium may be submitted from urogenital or oral sources only. Moisten small pieces of tissue with several drops of sterile, non-bacteriostatic normal saline.
For nail and skin samples, see Culture, Fungus-Dermal (FSKIN).
For blood and bone marrow FUNG culture, see CULTURE, Fungus-Blood (FBLD).