Routine periodic acid-Schiff staining of nail plate fragments in fungal cultures for onychomycosis: a method to increase the sensitivity of diagnosis.

ABSTRACT

We propose the routine staining of nail plate fragments with periodic acid-Schiff stain to increase diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing onychomycosis. The advantages of this method, including increasing diagnostic yield after contaminant growth, confirmation of negative culture, and low cost, are reviewed.