Immediate Tests (1 of 3)

Skin is uniquely visible and accessible for sampling. We can profit from this by carrying out certain tests immediately, in the clinic. Samples for more complex tests may be taken in the clinic and processed afterwards or taken later if the sampling is time-consuming.

These tests must be quick, easy and robust so that we make progress without delaying our clinical schedule. In general, we should be able to obtain a result within a few minutes. Commonly used tests fitting this profile, and examples of their principal uses, are listed below.

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Skin scraping

Technique

Main Use

Coat brushing

Parasitic, crusting, scaling, follicular, alopecic diseases

Hair plucks

Follicular diseases - demodicosis, dermatophytosis, dystrophy/dysplasia

Skin scrapings

Parasitic diseases

Tape strips

Parasitic diseases, microbial overgrowth (bacteria, Malassezia), cytology

Slide impression
& swab smears

Cytology, microbial overgrowth (bacteria, Malassezia), parasitic (Otodectes, Demodex)