Reference Services
The Mycotic Diseases Branch offers a comprehensive service for the diagnosis, management and prevention of fungal infections through the provision of specialist laboratory services and expert clinical, epidemiologic and scientific advice. Epidemiologic services
We can provide expert advice on the conduct of epidemiologic investigation of outbreaks of fungal infection, as well as guidance on the prevention of these infections, and clinical management of individual cases. Please contact us at:
Phone (404) 639 3548
Laboratory services
We accept specimens from state public health department laboratories as well as laboratories outside the United States.
We can provide advice to ensure selection of the most appropriate test or specimen types for particular patients and assist with the interpretation of laboratory results. Please contact us at:
Phone (404) 639 3548
If you wish to send us specimens or cultures, please contact us at:
Mycotic Diseases Branch
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop G-11
Atlanta, GA 30333
USA
Identification of cultures
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Molds (including dermatophytes) |
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Yeasts |
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Dimorphic fungal pathogens including |
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Blastomyces dermatitidis |
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Coccidioides immitis |
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Histoplasma capsulatum |
Please send pure cultures on slants not plates. Please note that isolates from sterile body sites receive a higher prioritization for identification to species level than isolates from non-sterile or less-significant sites (eg. yeasts from sputum, yeasts and molds from catheter urine or stool)
Serodiagnostic tests for infections caused by
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Aspergillus species |
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Blastomyces dermatitidis |
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Coccidioides immitis |
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Histoplasma capsulatum |
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Paracoccidioides brasiliensis |
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Sporothrix schenckii |
Please give us the appropriate clinical information. This is especially important if interpretation is required.
Immunohistologic identification of fungi in tissue sections, including
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Aspergillus species* |
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Blastomyces dermatitidis* |
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Candida species |
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Coccidioides immitis |
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Cryptococcus neoformans |
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Histoplasma capsulatum* |
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Pneumocystis jiroveci |
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Sporothrix schenckii |
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Zygomycosis [Rhizopus/Mucormycosis] |
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*Please note that reagents for these organisms are currently under evaluation |
Sending samples for laboratory testing
All samples should be securely packed conforming to current regulations and sent together with a request form. Please ensure that this has your address and telephone number (if you require an urgent result).
Telediagnosis service
The Mycotic Diseases Branch is now able to offer an electronic service for the identification of pathgenic fungi. To utilize this service, all you have to do is to e-mail to the CDC, images of fungal culture plates, and/or microscopic images of slide cultures or other stained microscopic preparations. The e-mail address for this service is: fdx@cdc.gov
The staff of the Mycotic Diseases Branch will be able to receive and view these images, and offer assistance in identification and diagnosis. |
