Dermatophyte Nucleic Acid Testing

28 November 2019

SA Pathology houses the National Mycology Reference Centre, which handles over 12,000 samples annually for clinicians in South Australia and across the country. SA Pathology’s mycology laboratory Head of Unit, Dr Sarah Kidd, and her team are proud to continue more than 50 years of providing the South Australian community with innovative and expert services for the identification of fungal pathogens.

In December 2019, SA Pathology will be changing the way Dermatophyte testing is performed. Traditional culture methods for common dermatophyte fungi will be replaced with Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT), which will permit a much faster turnaround time and higher sensitivity.

The ability to achieve a faster result for clinicians will enable earlier intervention with antifungal drugs and fewer repeat tests. This new testing will significantly benefit the patient and allow the treating clinician to deliver appropriate care within the community and closer to home.

NAT technology allows the laboratory to amplify targeted sequences of fungal DNA in the patient sample, to allow for specific identification of dermatophyte fungi, which can cause infection of the skin, nail and hair.

The new assay, which has been designed and manufactured here in Australia, can detect Trichophyton rubrum complex, Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Nannizzia gypsea (previously Microsporum gypseum) as well as other Trichophyton and Microsporum species, and Candida species.

SA Pathology’s move to NAT for fungal pathogen detection and identification is the first in the state and is representative of the dedication that Dr Sarah Kidd and her team display to ensure the health and wellbeing of all South Australians.