Susceptibility Testing – Currently, the Nebraska Medical Center Microbiology laboratory does not perform fungal susceptibility testing. Isolates to be tested are sent to The Fungal Testing Laboratory in San Antonio, Texas. Please call the Mycology laboratory if susceptibility testing is desired on a particular isolate (552-2090).

Specimen collection – The ideal specimens for fungal isolation are either tissue, sterile body fluid, or blood. If a tissue specimen is to be tested for the presence of fungi, it is important that part of the specimen is sent to the microbiology laboratory before the specimen is fixed in formalin for histological examination. Blood to be tested for fungus should be added to a separate blood culture bottle (Bactec Myco/F Lytic bottle) that is specially formulated for fungal and mycobacterial growth. It is important to note that the growth of moulds from specimens that originate from non-sterile sites should be interpreted with caution. In most instances, these saprophytic moulds are contaminants.

Timing of reports – Moulds may take 3-4 weeks to grow, whereas yeasts grow rather rapidly and can usually be identified within 3-5 days. Tissue, biopsy, bone marrow, and autopsy specimens will be finalized at 6 weeks; all other specimens will be finalized at 4 weeks.