[Histonet] PAS stain for nail fungus

[Kathleen Boozer]

Nair is placed on the nail when grossed by the pathology assistant for 1 hour and then cut.  The histotechs put nair on it after it is faced for a couple of minutes and cut it on eith + or poly-l-Lysine slides.  A PAS is done and it stays on great!

>>> <rsrichmond <@t> aol.com> 02/22/2007 10:09 >>>
Dr. Allen Smith's recent post reminds me of a question I've been meaning to post to Histonet.
 
Podiatrists are now performing biopsies of toenails with nail fungus, in order to get a fungal stain (PAS is being requested, I think) done. Apparently the insurance companies are now requiring a biopsy or culture diagnosis of fungal disease before they'll pay for the very expensive systemic drugs for nail fungus like terbinafine (Lamisil). 
 
Is anyone on Histonet getting these requests? What protocols do you use to cut and stain these difficult specimens?
 
Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN
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