Staining Solution Reagent

The FungusClearTM Fungal fluorescence staining solution is used for the rapid Identification of various fungal infections in human fresh or frozen clinical specimens, paraffin or glycol methacrylate embedded tissues. Typical specimens include scraping, nail and hair of dermatophytosis such as tinea cruris, tinea manus and pedis, tinea unguium, tinea capitis, tinea versicolor. Also include sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL), bronchial wash, and tissue biopsies from invasive fungal infection patients.

INTRODUCTION

Fungi are eukaryotic organisms. Beta-linked polysaccharides are found in fungi cell walls of various organisms such as chitin and cellulose. Various fungal and yeast types will stain fluorescently including Microsporum sp., Epidermophyton sp., Trichophuton sp., Candidia sp., Histoplasma sp. and Aspergillus sp. among others. The kit will also stain Pneumocystis carinii cysts, parasites such as Plasmodium sp., and regions of fungal hyphae undergoing differentiation. Keratin, collagen, and elastin fibers are also stained and may provide structural guidelines for diagnosis.

PRINCIPLE

Calcofluor White Stain is a non-specific fluorochrome that binds with cellulose and chitin contained in the cell walls of fungi and other organisms.

Evans blue present in the stain act as a counterstain and diminishes background fluorescence of tissues and cells when using blue light excitation.

10% potassium hydroxide are include in the solution for better visualization of fungal elements.

A range of 320 to 340 nm can be taken for emission wave lenght and the excitation occurs around 355nm.