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| Laboratory \ Adhesives |
Durotak Adhesive / Slides Information
| Excerpts from:
Cutaneous Cytology, Ronald J. Barr, MD
in American Academy of Dermatology, Vol 10, 1984, pg 163-180
Superficial Fungal Infections
..... Although the usefulness of KOH preparations is not disputed, they are at best a screening procedure. Morphology is difficult to appreciate, and the mountings generally last only a short period of time. Since scrapings do not normally adhere to a microscopic slide, certain modifications are necessary to obtain appropriate material for examination. The simplest method is that which uses plastic tape strippings. Almost any clear or transparent tape can be used. In most case of dermatophytosis, scrapings are made in the normal fashion but are left adherent to the lesion to be examined. The tape is then applied several times to the lesion, removing the abraded scrapings, as well as any loosely adherent stratum corneum.
The tape is then held between the fingers to create a slight depression. Several drops of PMS stain are placed on the scraping and allowed to remain for approximately 60 seconds. The tape is then gently rinsed in tap water and dried. The sticky surface of the tape is firmly pressed onto a clean, dry microscopic slide. It can be viewed directly or if desried, a small amount of routine mounting medium can be put on top of the tape and a coveslip applied. Modifications of this procedure can involve the use of plastic tape with the adhesive on both sides. Slides are prepared with the tape attached, and the slide with the tape can be then directly applied to the abraded lesion.
Commerical adhesives are also available that can be applied to glass slides. A nondrying adhesive, such as Durotak, can be used. This material can be applied to the glass slide and maintains a tacky consistency for several months. The glass slide with the adhesive is then used in identical manner to the plastic tape alone, stained as described, and then a coverslip applied. .....
The maor advantage of these technics, compared with the KOH, is that fungal morphology can be easily appreciated. Hyphae, pseudo-hyphae, and arthrospores are easily stained and can be separated from surrounding cellular debris or debris associated with topicallu applied medications which often contain particulate matter. In properly stained material the slides are good for at least 3 years and can form a part of the patient's permanent record.
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This is another article discussing this technique.
American Family Physician, Vol 31, pg 189-194, 1985
Skin-Surface Touch Print for Diagnosing Fungal Infections,
H. Irving Katz, MD, Steven E. Prawer, MD, Ngo T. Hien, MD
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DuroTak adhesive. 2 oz and 4 oz bottles for make it yourself Durotak Prepared slides. Box of 40 slides, precoated with Durotak, and coated surface protected with peel off paper.
Stains that can used with the Durotak Preparation include:
PMS Fungal Tzanck Stain, Datafax #34103, 34104, & 34105
Swartz Lamkin Stain, Datafax #34106
Chlorazol Fungal Stain, Datafax #34107
Triton X-Methylene Blue Fungal Stain #34108
Durotak preparations can be made into permanent mounts by:
After staining with one of the above, rinse off with water, allow slide to air dry, cover with ordinary mounting medium and cover slip.
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