Fungus Examination (KOH) Test in Kathmandu

About this test

The KOH examination is a quick bedside-to-microscope test that answers a single practical question: is this rash, nail change or patch of hair loss caused by a fungus? A few flakes of skin, a clipping of crumbling nail, or a few plucked hairs are placed on a glass slide with a drop of potassium hydroxide, which dissolves away the human skin cells but leaves fungal threads (hyphae) and spores intact, so they stand out clearly under the microscope. Doctors order it whenever a fungal infection is suspected — itchy ring-shaped patches (ringworm or dadhuru), athlete's foot between the toes, jock itch in the groin, scaly discoloured toenails, dandruff-like scaling, or the pale and dark patches of pityriasis versicolor that flare in the hot, humid pre-monsoon and monsoon months in Kathmandu and the Terai. It is especially useful before starting weeks of oral antifungal tablets, because many of these rashes are mimicked by eczema, psoriasis or steroid-spoilt tinea, and treating the wrong condition wastes time and money. A positive KOH simply confirms fungal elements are present; it does not name the exact species, so a fungal culture may be added when the infection is stubborn, recurrent, or affects the nails. A negative result does not always rule fungus out, particularly if cream has been used recently, which is why we ask you to stop antifungal products beforehand. It is painless, inexpensive and usually reported the same day.

Sample type

Skin scraping, nail clipping or hair (KOH mount)

Preparation

No fasting needed. Do not apply antifungal cream, powder, ointment or nail polish for at least 3 days before the sample is collected, as these can hide the fungus. Avoid washing the affected area with antiseptic soap on the morning of the test. Let us scrape directly from the edge of the rash or the discoloured part of the nail.

Turnaround time

Reports for Fungus Examination (KOH) are typically ready within: Same Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other microbiology tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Fungus Examination (KOH) or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.