Mycology Proficiency Testing Program (PTP)

PT Mold Master List Instructions

The master list is is intended to guide participating laboratories on the scope of Mycology (GENERAL) Proficiency Testing Program.  The list includes most common pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi likely to be encountered in the laboratory. The list is compiled from published peer-reviewed reports as well as current practices in other proficiency testing programs.  This list is meant to illustrate acceptable identification used in grading of responses received after each test event.  This list does not include all molds that might be encountered in a clinical laboratory nor is it intended to be used for overall assessment of laboratory personnel. 

The nomenclature used in this list is based upon currently recognized species in published literature, monographs and catalogues of recognized culture collections.  No attempt has been made to include teleomorphic states of fungi if they are not routinely encountered in the clinical specimens.  Where appropriate, current nomenclature has been included under parentheses in bold letters to indicate that commonly accepted genus and/or species name is no longer valid, e.g. Phaeoannellomyces sp. (Hortea werneckii).  These guidelines supersede any previous instructions for identification of molds. The list is subject to change in response to significant changes in nomenclature, human disease incidence or other factors.

An acceptable answer will include names of the genus and species, when both genus and species are shown in this list, e.g. Microsporum nanum, or Sporothrix schenckii.  Any answer that only contains Microsporum sp. or Sporothrix sp. is not acceptable.  It is acceptable to report identifications as Rhizopus sp when no species names are provided in the Master List.  However, if a laboratory decides to provide a species name in later instances then final grade will reflect consensus answers of the referee and/or participating laboratories.

In some instances, a genus includes both specific species names and the epithet ‘sp.’, e.g. Scedosporium apiospermum, Scedosporium prolificans, and Scedosporium sp.  It is expected that major pathogenic species will be completely identified in such instances i.e. S. apiospermum and S. prolificans while other members of the genus will be identified as ‘Scedosporium sp.’.  Please use “group” or “species complex” where appropriate e.g. Aspergillus glaucus group or Fusarium solani species complex consistent with current reporting format used by the laboratory.

• The mold master list is also available as an Adobe pdf file - ( 20K).

PT Mold Master List