Diagnostic Mycology Laboratory

The Diagnostic Mycology laboratory acts as a reference facility, a statewide consulting facility, and basic and applied research laboratory.

The laboratory workup includes:

• Pathogenic Molds
  These filamentous fungi are capable of causing disease in healthy individuals, as well as in humans with suppressed, underdeveloped, or compromised immune systems.
• Pathogenic Yeasts (Image: Pathogenic Yeasts)
  These single cell fungi reside in healthy individuals or in the environment. They are capable of causing superficial or systemic infection in both healthy and immunodeficient people.
• Antifungal Susceptibility testing
  In vitro susceptibility testing methods are available for possible selection of antifungal therapy for fungal infections. The Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, formerly called as National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards) antifungal susceptibility test methods M27-A2 (yeasts) and M38-A (molds) are routinely used.
• Antigen Detection
  Cryptococcal antigen is frequently present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and/or serum of patients with cryptococcal meningitis. The Latex Antigen Detection System is a simple and rapid latex agglutination test for the qualitative and semi-quantitative detection of the capsular polysaccharide antigens of Cryptococcus neoformans in serum and CSF.
• Submission of materials
  Requisition forms, approved mailers, and mailing instructions are available upon request.