Routine Periodic Acid-Schiff Staining of Nail Plate Fragments in Fungal Cultures for Onychomycosis: A Method to Increase the Sensitivity of Diagnosis

We propose the routine staining of nail plate fragments with periodic acid-Schiff stain to increase diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing onychomycosis. The advantages of this method, including increasing diagnostic yield after contaminant growth, confirmation of negative culture, and low cost, are reviewed.