KOH WET MOUNT TEST

KOH WET MOUNT is a rapid test used to visualize the fungal structures in clinical samples using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a clearing reagent. Microscopic observation of fungal structure is an important method to identify fungal species. In clinical laboratories, microscopic observations of clinical specimens are performed to reveal the presence of fungi together with their structure before culturing or subjecting the specimen to any testing methods of fungal identification. India ink preparation, Giemsa staining, periodic-acid-Schiff staining, Grocott’s methenamine silver stain staining, calcofluor mount, and KOH mount are routinely used in diagnostic labs for microscopic examination of clinical specimens. Mycoses are rapidly diagnosed by observing the presence of fungal pathogens in a clinical sample. This will guide the microbiologist about fungal morphology and help in making presumptive identification of fungal genera and also help to determine the need for culture and types of culture media to be used. Being the easiest, simplest, and cheapest fungal observation technique, it is widely used in diagnostic laboratories.