Fungi SCAN-Coming Soon
BioMedomics Fungi SCAN™ All-in-One Stain is a unique sample processing reagent that uses potassium hydroxide (KOH) to dissolve non-fungal cells, a fluorescent compound that binds to ß-polysaccharides in the fungal cell wall, and a counterstain to improve contrast. Combining fluorescence labeling and direct microscopy achieves more accurate and intuitive results than standard methods for diagnosing fungal infections.
Fungal infections are caused by fungi, microorganisms which commonly occur in the environment as yeast or mold. Some fungi emit spores that can be inhaled or enter the body through the skin. Depending on the type of fungi and the robustness of a patient’s immune system, infections can be superficial or life threatening. Fungi SCAN can be used to detect fungal infections of all types using skin, nail, or hair samples.
Standard methods for preparing suspected mycomial clinical specimens for microscopic diagnosis require multiple steps and sometimes several different reagents. The process is cumbersome and time consuming, and fungal hyphae can be difficult to differentiate from background and debris material when potassium hydroxide (KOH) is the only staining agent used. The unique formulation in Fungi SCAN improves the differentiation of fungi and can be quickly applied to samples, allowing the rapid identification of fungal hyphae.
Features & Benefits
- Fungi SCAN offers an easy, fast, accurate, and efficient method for detecting fungal infections.
- Single, all-in-one solution can be used to wet mount skin, nail, or hair samples – no drying needed.
- Staining process and observation can be completed in less than 5 minutes.
- Fluorescence improves accuracy over KOH alone.
- Less time is required per sample resulting in more profit per test.
How it Works
A skin, nail, or hair sample is obtained using common collection techniques such as scraping or taping. The sample is smeared on a slide and the Fungi SCAN staining solution applied. If the sample is a cell culture or skin, the solution can be added directly to the slide. The solution preferentially binds to the polysaccharide and chitin in fungal cell walls and fluoresces across a broad spectrum when excited by UV or violet/blue light, allowing for visualization of fungal elements. The process takes less than five minutes.
Steps
1. Smear slide with collected sample.
2. Add the staining solution.
3. Observe with fluorescent microscope.
Results
In photo (1), the KOH processing did not easily detect Pityrosporum, but the Fungi SCAN fluorescent staining technique shown in photo (2) illustrates the highly visible Pityrosporum and is an excellent comparison between the Fungi SCAN fluorescent technique and traditional KOH staining.
Comparing photos (3) to (4) and (5) to (6), although both techniques can detect the fungal mycelia, the Fungi SCAN fluorescent agent provides superior clarity and definition for the observer.
BioMedomics Fungi SCANTM All-in-One Stain is a unique sample processing reagent that uses potassium hydroxide (KOH) to dissolve non-fungal cells, a fluorescent compound that binds to ß-polysaccharides in the fungal cell wall, and a counterstain to improve contrast. Combining fluorescence labeling and direct microscopy achieves more accurate and intuitive results than standard methods for diagnosing fungal infections.
The BioMedomics Fungi SCAN All-in-One Stain
Materials not provided but required:
- Slide
- Gloves
- Fluorescent microscope
The staining process and observation can be completed in less than 5 minutes.
BioMedomics Fungi SCAN can detect all types of fungal infection present in hair, skin, or nail samples.
Everyone is exposed to fungi in the environment and anyone can contract a fungal infection. People taking antibiotics or who have compromised immune systems may be at higher risk.
Fungi-SCAN is a chemical stain that preferentially binds to the chitin present in fungal cell walls and fluoresces across a broad spectrum, allowing for visualization of fungal elements. As both the emission and excitation spectra are very broad, filter selection is dependent on the preference and experience of the user. Many filter sets with UV or violet/ blue excitation wavelengths will generate fluorescence.
- Ultra Violet: Excitation from 340nm to 380nm, 430nm suppression filter, and counterstain will produce blue fluorescence with a red background.
- Violet plus blue: Excitation from 420nm to 490nm, 515nm suppression filter, and counter-stain will produce green fluorescence with a red background.
Consult your microscope manufacturer for optimal filter sets for your device
Fungi SCAN can be used with skin, hair, or nail samples obtained using common sample collection techniques such as scraping or taping.
Product Comparison
Sensitivity | Time | Ease of Operation | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fungi SCAN | High | 5 minutes | Very Easy | Low |
Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) | Med | 5- 10 minutes | Easy | Low |
Culture | Low | >1 week | Difficult | Medium |
Molecular | High | 20 minutes | Difficult | High |
NOTE: BioMedomics Fungi SCAN is currently not available for in vitro diagnostic use in the USA.
Find Out More
ADDRESS
BioMedomics, Inc. 1100 Perimeter Park Drive Suite 104 Morrisville, NC 27560 USA
CALL US
919.890.3070
info@biomedomics.com