Biomaterial Database

A comparison of calcofluor white, potassium hydroxide, and culture for the laboratory diagnosis of superficial fungal infection. 1990

D J Haldane, and E Robart

Department of Microbiology, Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

A total of 207 skin scrapings were prospectively studied using potassium hydroxide (KOH), calcofluor white (CW), and culture to determine the clinical usefulness of each microscopic method. For dermatophytes (prevalence 13.2%), CW had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity 95%, giving a positive predictive value of 74% and negative predictive value of 99%. KOH had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 95%, giving a positive predictive value of 73% and a negative predictive value of 98%. CW was simple, rapid, and easy to read. For dermatophyte infection, CW results are as useful as KOH results.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011188	Potassium	An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D011237	Predictive Value of Tests	In screening and diagnostic tests, the probability that a person with a positive test is a true positive (i.e., has the disease), is referred to as the predictive value of a positive test; whereas, the predictive value of a negative test is the probability that the person with a negative test does not have the disease. Predictive value is related to the sensitivity and specificity of the test.	Negative Predictive Value,Positive Predictive Value,Predictive Value Of Test,Predictive Values Of Tests,Negative Predictive Values,Positive Predictive Values,Predictive Value, Negative,Predictive Value, Positive
D011446	Prospective Studies	Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group.	Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D003881	Dermatomycoses	Superficial infections of the skin or its appendages by any of various fungi.	Skin Diseases, Fungal,Dermatomycosis,Dermatophyte Infection,Fungal Skin Diseases
D003883	Arthrodermataceae	A family of ascomycetous fungi, order Onygenales, characterized by smooth ascospores. Genera in the family include Arthroderma, Keratinomyces, and Ctenomyces. Several well-known anamorphic forms are parasitic upon the skin.	Arthroderma,Ctenomyces,Dermatophytes,Keratinomyces,Cutaneous Fungi,Cutaneous Fungus,Dermatomyces,Nannizzia,Arthrodermas,Ctenomyce,Dermatomyce,Dermatophyte,Fungi, Cutaneous,Fungus, Cutaneous,Keratinomyce,Nannizzias
D005658	Fungi	A kingdom of eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that live parasitically as saprobes, including MUSHROOMS; YEASTS; smuts, molds, etc. They reproduce either sexually or asexually, and have life cycles that range from simple to complex. Filamentous fungi, commonly known as molds, refer to those that grow as multicellular colonies.	Fungi, Filamentous,Molds,Filamentous Fungi,Filamentous Fungus,Fungus,Fungus, Filamentous,Mold
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006878	Hydroxides	Inorganic compounds that contain the OH- group.
D001557	Benzenesulfonates	Organic salts and esters of benzenesulfonic acid.
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.