Specimen Collection

Skin Scrapings: Collect skin scrapings at the advancing margin of lesion using blunt end of scalpel blade or edge of glass slide; place directly in a sterile container.

Nails: Clean nail with 70% alcohol. 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. Place all material in a sterile cup.

Hair: Collect scalp specimens by plucking hair shafts (hair clippings not acceptable) and also include scrapings at the base of the lesion; submit in sterile cup.