Laboratory Test Reference Guide

Scrapings must be taken from the outside edge of the lesion using a scalpel blade held at right angles to the skin. Send specimen along with scalpel blade in a sterile urine pot. A routine bacterial swab should also be submitted. Patients may be referred to Laboratory Outpatients Monday – Friday for specimen collection.

Hair:  No cleaning of scalp is needed.        
Select infected areas, using forceps epilate at least 10 hairs.        
For hairs broken off at the scalp level, use a scalpel or a blade knife.
Nail: For a specimen of the dorsal plate, scrape the outer surface and discard the scrapings.  Then scrape the deeper portion for a specimen. Remove a portion of debris from under the nail with a scalpel. Collect the whole nail or nail clippings. Skin and interspaces: Scrape the entire lesion(s), especially the edges, and both sides of interspaces with a sterile scalpel.