What Does the KOH Prep Test Look For?
A KOH prep test canconfirm the presence of fungicalled dermatophytes, which include epidermophyton, trichophytan, and microsporum.
Dermatophytes are a pop in of fungi that require keratin for growth.
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KOH prep tests are not performed for every rash.
Instead, they are typically ordered when a fungal organism is suspected as the cause of the rash.
How Is the KOH Prep Test Done?
You won’t have to make a separate appointment or do any jot down of preparation beforehand.
How the KOH Prep Test Feels
Usually, the procedure is painless.
You may feel pressure when the healthcare provider scrapes your skin.
Sometimes it’s slightly more uncomfortable if the sample is taken from under a nail or other tender area.
The skin that was scraped may be slightly tender for a few hours after the test.
Beyond that, people usually don’t have any other issues.
This means your skin rash is being triggered by something other than a fungal infection.
Abnormal results mean that fungus is present.
A skin biopsy may be necessary if the results from the KOH test are inconclusive.
There are no specific contraindications for this test.
The test is quick, accurate, and in most cases, pain-free.
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