Interpretive Handbook
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Test 84390:
Fungal Smear
Clinical Information 
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Many fungi in the environment cause disease in severely compromised human hosts. Accordingly, the range of potential pathogenic fungi has increased as the number of immunosuppressed individuals (persons with AIDS, patients receiving chemotherapy or transplant rejection therapy, etc.) has increased.
Few fungal diseases can be diagnosed clinically; most are diagnosed by isolating and identifying the infecting fungus in the clinical laboratory.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Detection of fungi in clinical specimens
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Positive slides are reported as 1 or more of the following: yeast or hyphae present, organism resembling Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans, or Malassezia furfur.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
No significant cautionary statements.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
Negative
Clinical References Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
LaRocco MT: Reagents, stains, and media: mycology. In Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 8th edition. Washington, DC, ASM Press, 2003, pp 1686-1692
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