Fluorescence microscopy detection of dermatophytes with Blankophor

It is the first time that a fluorescent microscopic rapid-stain process is compared with the alkali method and with mycological culture examination. 810 skin scrapings primarily from horse, cat, and dog were available for analysis. The preparation of the samples for the fluorescent microscope test is easy and quick. The fluorescent stain solution keeps sufficiently long. When the slide preparations are looked at under the fluorescent microscope, the mycological elements light up and can easily be distinguished under survey enlargement. This leads to a considerable reduction of evaluation time. The microscopic proof of dermatophytes is considerably improved by the introduction of the fluorescent microscopic technique into mycological diagnosis, as this process is clearly superior to the alkali method. Dermatophytes are identified and finally evaluated after finishing the cultural analysis. Furthermore, the fluorescent microscopic proof of yeasts of the kind of Pityrosporum yeasts and of Demodex mites is possible. The not inconsiderable costs of the technical equipment may stand in the way of general and routine use of the fluorescent microscope for diagnosing dermatophytes. However, for laboratories with a large number of submitted skin scrapings, this process can be rated as a useful enrichment of their diagnostic potential.