<Ol> <Li> Collection: Skin, nail, or hair samples are collected from the infected area on the patient . For skin samples, a scalpel or edge of a glass slide is used to gently scrape skin scales from the infected area . For hair samples, a forceps is used to remove hair shafts and follicles from the infected site . If the test is being sent to a laboratory, the scrapings are placed in a sterile covered container . </Li> <Li> The scrapings are placed directly onto a microscope slide and are covered with 10% or 20% potassium hydroxide . </Li> <Li> The slide is left to stand until clear, normally between five and fifteen minutes, in order to dissolve skin cells, hair, and debris . </Li> <Li> To enhance clearing dimethyl sulfoxide can be added to the slide . To make the fungi easier to see lactophenol cotton blue stain can be added . </Li> <Li> The slide is gently heated to speed up the action of the KOH . </Li> <Li> Adding calcofluor - white stain to the slide will cause the fungi to become fluorescent, making them easier to identify under a fluorescent microscope . </Li> <Li> Place the slide under a microscope to read . </Li> </Ol> <Li> Collection: Skin, nail, or hair samples are collected from the infected area on the patient . For skin samples, a scalpel or edge of a glass slide is used to gently scrape skin scales from the infected area . For hair samples, a forceps is used to remove hair shafts and follicles from the infected site . If the test is being sent to a laboratory, the scrapings are placed in a sterile covered container . </Li> <Li> The scrapings are placed directly onto a microscope slide and are covered with 10% or 20% potassium hydroxide . </Li> <Li> The slide is left to stand until clear, normally between five and fifteen minutes, in order to dissolve skin cells, hair, and debris . </Li>

A koh mount is used to detect which of the following