Lactophenol Cotton Blue Test

The human body can be infected by various fungi over its course of life. They usually get treated on their own or by using OTC medicines, but sometimes certain fungi enter the bloodstream and cause extensive damage to the person infected. This is a test which checks for the presence of fungi in the body.

No special preparation is required for this test. Only the patient needs to inform the doctor if they are on my medication. So that the doctor can plan the test accordingly, I.e. stop the medication for some days prior to the test incase it effects the result.

Depending upon the variety of fungus found. The doctor prescribes or start the treatment. Some of the severe diseases caused by fungi are Aspergillosis, Blastomycosis, Coccidioidomycosis, Cryptococcosis, Histoplasmosis, Candidiasis, Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).

The sample has to be collected in a sterile environment by a nurse or the doctor. The sample has to be either skin scraping, sputum or other body fluids. After the collection of the sample it's is tested using the stain method. The sample is put under a slide and treated with phenol, lactic acid and cotton blue.