Fungus Infection Tests

Developing a fungus on any part of your body can be unpleasant and produce a whole host of undesirable symptoms, from skin irritation to pain. Before fungi can be treated, however, it needs to be diagnosed. A series of tests are used to identify and treat fungus infections. Often, a combination of tests is required to attain accurate results.

Microscopic Examination

• To test for fungus infections, your physician may order a microscopic examination to see whether or not the problem area is in fact caused by fungi. Biopsies, wet mounts and dried smears can be used to examine the suspected fungus under a microscope and determine an accurate diagnosis. The determining factors of fungi include the presence of spore parts, filaments or yeast.

Mycology

• Mycology is another form of fungus infection test that requires a sample of the suspected fungi be taken either by scraping it from the skin, a biopsy or a hair sample. Once the material is collected, a lab technician will attempt to grow the fungus in a Petri dish. Though this process may take several weeks, a culture test such as this will determine conclusively if a fungus is the cause of your infection.

Ultraviolet Light

• Your physician may use ultraviolet light for some kinds of fungi identification. Also known as Wood's light, ultraviolet radiation is shone on some kinds of suspected fungi and cause it to glow green. Tinea capitis, a type of scalp fungal infection, will make itself known under a Wood's light because the hair will look fluorescent green.