Nail fungus test: when to take it, what it shows

When is it necessary to take a test for nail fungus?

Fungal diseases are contagious diseases that are transmitted from one person to another. The disease is transmitted through contact with an active micro-lesion, when wearing contaminated shoes. The infection penetrates the skin through cracks, ulcers and diaper rash areas. Detection of biofungal structures in samples taken from lightly affected segments confirms the presence of a mycotic lesion.

Examination of the skin and nail plates is an analysis that allows you to detect fungus on the hands or feet.

A nail analysis is prescribed in the following cases:

• With symptoms of shallow mycosis (manifested by peeling and accompanied by itching).
• When symptoms of onychomycosis appear (this disease is characterized by a change in the shape, thickness and color of the nail).

Analysis for nail fungus: research methods

The main diagnostic method is microscopy.

Common types of research:

• bioassay for demodicosis;
• testing for the detection of pathogenic fungi.

In medical practice, there are four groups of fungal disorders caused by pathogenic fungi dermatomycetes or dermatophytes:

• Keratomycosis micropathogens parasitize in the upper layers of the keratinized layer or on the hair cuticle, without causing inflammation of the surrounding tissues.
• Epidermomycosis already has a distinct inflammatory reaction from the underlying layers.
• Trichomycosis lack of timely biotherapy can lead to purulent inflammation of nearby tissues.
• Dermatomycosis clinical picture is recorded in patients with weakened immunity and metabolic disorders. Quite often occurs in elderly patients and in children with concomitant gastrointestinal pathologies and pulmonary diseases. Pathogens affect deep layers, which causes a chronic inflammatory process of granulomatous nature.

The doctor, having visually assessed the clinical picture, decides which laboratory tests will indicate a group of pathogenic fungi, and refers the patient for diagnostics. This includes:

• General AK and OAM;
• special testing for fungal carriage;
• microbiological culture;
• collection of biological material.

The collection of biological material is carried out by a specialist who grinds the nails for the presence of dermatophyte hyphae or pseudohyphae of mycelium. The most reliable data can be obtained by conducting a microbiological analysis. A blood test for biochemical parameters will help to identify the fungus in the body, periodically prescribed by a dermatologist for monitoring during treatment.

Comprehensive diagnostics of foot fungus shows a complete picture of the disease, where each analysis makes its contribution and helps the doctor make a more correct diagnosis and determine:

• the true stage of the disease;
• the likelihood of infection penetration into the patient's internal environment;
• the patient's sensitivity to medications;
• prevent the risk of possible complications and side effects.

How to prepare before taking your nails for analysis?

There are nuances that can significantly affect the accuracy of diagnosis. Dermatologists recommend during the preparation period:

• a few days before the diagnosis, do not carry out water procedures using disinfectants;
• do not use cosmetics in the places where the scraping was taken;
• it is forbidden to cover the nails with any kind of varnish for decorative or medicinal purposes;
• do not cut your nails a week before the visit;
• try not to use medications that can affect the diagnostic results.

The scraping will not show the full picture of the nature of the fungus, so in addition to this analysis, it is necessary to undergo a PCR test and take a bacterial culture to identify the pathogen and select the necessary medications for the most effective treatment.

Sequence of the analysis for nail fungus

The procedure does not long-term, painless, and can be performed repeatedly. During the manipulation, particles are taken from areas of the skin or from under the nail plates. The study for onychomycosis is performed by a dermatologist, using fragments of nails, scraping them with a scalpel or cutting:

• if the cracking of the nail is not severe, a scraping is taken;
• in case of distal onychomycosis, the nail is cut, and the material for diagnosis is taken from the transverse groove of the nail;
• if the area near the nail is inflamed, then a scraping is taken from this part of the nail;
• a biopsy is taken with a special milling device when the nail has already been rejected.

The material to be examined is transferred to a special container and sent to the laboratory. After this, the treated area should not be exposed to water, medicinal ointments or cosmetics.

Where to submit nails for analysis?

The client submits the material for diagnostics at a time convenient for him. Biomaterial scrapings taken from the affected segments, as well as nails and hair. The places of material collection are hands, feet, hair and other parts of the body. Collection is carried out only by a specialist of the medical center. During micro-examination, the material is taken from visible sources of damage, preference is given to the primary foci, the boundaries of which are not damaged.

If the patient suspects a mycotic lesion, then consult a doctor and he will suggest a medical institution where you can take a test for nail fungus. This can be either a laboratory at a state clinic or a modern private medical laboratory equipped with the latest technology. Analysis of the skin, hair and nails is carried out in most state, where you can save money, and not free, private biolaboratories. The execution time is 2 days, an express method is possible. The list of all medical institutions where you can take an analysis of the skin and nail plates is indicated on the page of a specific bioresearch.

Changes in the nail plates occur not only with fungal infections. Classic symptoms of the disease indicating a fungal infection can only be reliably diagnosed by a laboratory method. Only in half of the studied materials, according to statistics, the presence of a fungal infection was confirmed.

Therapy for such pathologies should be carried out by a dermatologist. Since patients often have to undergo several courses of therapy with various drugs, microscopy is used to monitor the course of treatment. With self-medication, the disease is not cured, but goes into a low-active form, which then recurs. Therapeutic tactics are selected for each client individually, taking into account the results obtained and the general condition of the body.