Description
Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium (Wollina et al., 2016), is a fungal infection of the nail typically caused by pathogenic fungal dermatophytes, such as Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccossum; onychomycosis may also be caused by yeasts, including Candida parapsilosis and Candida guilliermondii, or non-dermatophyte molds, including Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, Onychocola canadensis, the Aspergillus species, Scopulariopsis species, Alternaria species, Acremonium species, and Fusarium species (Ameen et al., 2014; Bongomin et al., 2018; Wollina et al., 2016). Terms such as male and female are used when necessary to refer to sex assigned at birth.

Regulatory Status 
A search of the FDA database on 11/20/2019 using the term “onychomycosis” yielded 0 results. Many labs have developed specific tests that they must validate and perform in-house. These laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) are regulated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as high-complexity tests under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA ’88). As an LDT, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved or cleared this test; however, FDA clearance or approval is not currently required for clinical use. 

Policy 
Application of coverage criteria is dependent upon an individual’s benefit coverage at the time of the request. 

1. For individuals with onychomycosis, direct microscopic examination with potassium hydroxide, fungal culture of desquamated subungual material, or fungal stain of a nail clipping(s) is considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY.
2. For individuals with onychomycosis and for whom trial and failure of oral anti-fungals or documented reasons why oral treatment is contraindicated (i.e., liver disease) has failed to resolve infection, nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) is considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY.
3. To screen for, diagnose, or confirm onychomycosis, NAAT (see Note 1) is considered NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

The following does not meet coverage criteria due to a lack of available published scientific literature confirming that the test(s) is/are required and beneficial for the diagnosis and treatment of an individual’s illness.

4. To screen for, diagnose, or confirm onychomycosis, attenuated total-reflectance fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy is considered NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.
5. Testing for the presence of fungal-derived sterols (e.g., ergosterol) is considered NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

NOTES:

Note 1: Nucleic acid testing (e.g., PCR, PCR-RFLP, and next-generation sequencing [NGS]) of the following microorganisms: Candida species, Aspergillus species, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccossum, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, Onychocola canadensis, Scopulariopsis species, Alternaria species, Acremonium species, and Fusarium species (Ameen et al., 2014; Bongomin et al., 2018; Wollina et al., 2016).

Table of Terminology

Rationale 
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail that causes approximately 50% of nail disease cases (Gupta et al., 2017) and is considered the most common nail disorder based on clinical statistics (Lipner & Scher, 2019). Onychomycosis infections can be obtained through several sources, including hotel carpets, bathtubs, saunas, pool decks, and public showers, and may be generated by dermatophytes, yeast, or mold. Data show that toenails are impacted 25 times more often than fingernails (Bongomin et al., 2018), and the first and fifth toe nail are more likely to be infected owing to the fact that footwear more frequently damages these nails (Ameen et al., 2014). 

Dermatophytes are pathogenic fungi that can infect the skin, hair, and/or nails (Koo et al., 2019), and they are estimated to cause 90% of onychomycosis toenail cases and 50% of fingernail cases (Bodman & Krishnamurthy, 2022). These fungi attach to a surface such as an epithelial cell, extract nutrients, and grow as hyphae or filaments forming molds; this process allows the dermatophyte to seed several conditions, including onychomycosis (tinea unguium), athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), and scalp ringworm (tinea capitis) (Achterman & White, 2013). Wollina et al. (2016) suggest that an estimated 68% of onychomycosis cases are due to dermatophytes, 29% of cases due to yeasts, and 3% due to molds; further, mixed flora was identified in 5% to 15% of cases. Several types of dermatophytes may produce an onychomycosis infection, including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccossum (Bodman & Krishnamurthy, 2022). In the United Kingdom, 85% – 90% of nail infections are due to dermatophytes (Ameen et al., 2014), while non-dermatophyte molds are estimated to cause between 2% to 25% of all onychomycosis cases (Bongomin et al., 2018). Non-dermatophyte mold onychomycosis causative agents include the Aspergillus species; incidence rates with this species vary between 1% to 35% of all cases and almost 71% in the elderly population (Bongomin et al., 2018).

A mature nail is comprised of the nail bed, nail plate, nail matrix, and nail fold (Wollina et al., 2016). Onychomycosis-causing pathogens live on the keratin of dead corneocytes and primarily infect the nail bed; after the nail bed thickens or becomes hyperkeratotic, the nail matrix is damaged (Bodman & Krishnamurthy, 2022). The nail plate may also be invaded during the infection, eventually becoming detached or warped, allowing the affliction to intensify (Bodman & Krishnamurthy, 2022). If a toenail case is not treated, the fungi, mold, or yeast could spread to the foot, causing tinea pedis in appropriate conditions; infections may also spread to the hands or groin area (Ameen et al., 2014). If skin is externally disrupted, allowing bacteria entry into the body, the infection may also cause foot ulcers, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, and gangrene in diabetic patients (Ameen et al., 2014). While an official diagnosis requires lab results, typical visual cues for an onychomycosis infection include a jagged edge of the infected area of the nail “with spikes directed to the proximal fold, white-yellow longitudinal striae in the onycholytic nail plate, and colored parallel bands” (Abdallah et al., 2019). Subungual short spikes are also indicative of onychomycosis (Bodman & Krishnamurthy, 2022).

Several types of onychomycosis have been identified and include distolateral subungual (DLSOM), superficial white, proximal subungual, endonyx, and total dystrophic (TDOM) onychomycosis (Abdallah et al., 2019). Superficial white onychomycosis is rare, develops only in toenails, and occurs when the pathogens invade the nail through the nail plate; in proximal subungual onychomycosis, the infection occurs through the cuticle and typically develops in patients with a suppressed immune system (Wollina et al., 2016). Endonyx onychomycosis, which is caused by T. soudanense, occurs when the nail plate thickens; finally, the most advanced stage of onychomycosis is TDOM which may take up to 10 or 15 years to develop and can mature from any of the four main onychomycosis types mentioned above (Wollina et al., 2016). 

The global prevalence of onychomycosis is estimated at 5.5% of the total population (Angulo-Rodríguez et al., 2021; Gupta et al., 2017). Ameen et al. (2014) estimate the onychomycosis prevalence in the United Kingdom at 3% of the adult population, while Wollina et al. (2016) estimate the prevalence in both the United States and Europe at 4.3% of the total population. Further, studies with a hospital-based population report an incidence at 8.9% (Wollina et al., 2016). Both lifestyle and general climate can impact infection rates. 

As onychomycosis causes approximately 50% of nail disease cases, an estimated 15% of nail disorders can be contributed to metabolic conditions or inflammatory disorders, and five percent due to malignancies or pigment ailments (Wollina et al., 2016). Non-infectious nail diseases may include lichen ruber, yellow nail syndrome, psoriasis unguium, and tumors (Wollina et al., 2016). Onychomycosis may be stimulated by other nail disorders such as psoriasis (Ghannoum et al., 2018). When compared to nail psoriasis, onychomycosis infections tend to have more layers of parakeratosis, a greater amount of neutrophils and serous lakes, and a more blurred and/or irregular nail transition zone than psoriasis-based infections (Trevisan et al., 2019).

Several ailments or conditions increase the risk of an onychomycosis infection, including diabetes, obesity, old age, immunosuppression, smoking, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Gupta et al., 2017), and cancer; further, patients who receive dialysis or who have previously received a transplant also experience a greater risk of developing an onychomycosis infection (Wollina et al., 2016). Diabetics are almost three times more likely to develop onychomycosis than non-diabetics; current data suggests that an estimated 34% of all diabetics have been diagnosed with the ailment (Ameen et al., 2014). Patients with HIV typically experience a more severe infection with all fingernails and toes infected due to a compromised immune system (Ameen et al., 2014). Onychomycosis is rare in pediatric populations, except in children with Down syndrome or immunodeficiencies (Solis-Arias & Garcia-Romero, 2017). Both men and older adults are more likely to develop onychomycosis compared to females or young adults (Ameen et al., 2014). These statistics could be contributed to the fact that older adults are more likely to exhibit reduced peripheral circulation, larger and potentially abnormal nail surfaces, difficulty grooming and maintaining efficient hygiene levels, and may have a greater chance of exposure to pathogenic fungi (Ameen et al., 2014). Athletes also experience onychomycosis infections at a greater incidence, with data suggesting that athletes are 2.5 times more likely to develop an infection than the general population, with infections seven times more prevalent in toenails than fingernails (Daggett et al., 2019). This is likely due to the warm and moist environment in the shoe and sock, close quarters with other athletes, and/or trauma to the foot during sporting activities.

Proprietary Testing
An onychomycosis diagnosis should be given based on both clinical results and mycological lab results (Wollina et al., 2016). Several types of tests have been developed to diagnose onychomycosis. The current diagnostic gold standard includes direct microscopy with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and fungal culture, as these methods can identify the pathogenic species and fungal viability; additional tests include polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, fluorescent staining and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining (Gupta et al., 2017; Rios-Yuil, 2017). It has been reported that KOH testing is only 60% sensitive and cannot identify the species, but it can differentiate between dermatophytes and saprophytes based on a positive result; “Currently, the most sensitive test (95%) is a pathologist interpreted nail clip biopsy that has been stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) plus Grocott methenamine silver” (Bodman & Krishnamurthy, 2022). Mycologic culture may be used for suspected onychomycosis cases with negative KOH results if spores, hyphae, or other fungal structures were seen via microscopy; histologic evaluation of a nail clipping using PAS stain may assist in an onychomycosis diagnosis with more sensitive results than those given by mycologic culture (Arndt et al., 2016). An Aspergillus species causative agent may be suspected with a negative culture result but a positive KOH test (Bongomin et al., 2018). Fungal cultures must be interpreted by a mycologist and, while they are specific, they are only about 60% sensitive and take several weeks to grow (Bodman & Krishnamurthy, 2022). When utilized together, fungal culture and PCR can determine the source of the infection; the addition of PCR can improve species detection by 20% and will assist in differentiating between onychomycosis and nail dystrophy. PCR, when used with fungal culture, allows for a “much faster, highly sensitive, and very specific diagnosis” (Wollina et al., 2016). Multiplex qPCR assays have shown to be reliable for onychomycosis diagnostics with a shorter response time than traditional culture methods (Koo et al., 2019).

Many commercial tests are available. 

For example, a multi-component test developed by Ipsum Diagnostics uses PCR to quickly identify the disease-causing agent in an onychomycosis infection alongside additional histology testing methods to provide same day results and evidence-based treatment options for both bacterial and fungal species (Ipsum Diagnostics, 2022). 

SSI Diagnostica has developed a commercial Dermatophyte Real Time PCR Kit which allows for the diagnostic detection of dermatophytes in nail samples, particularly T. rubrum (SSI, 2023). 

LabCorp has developed a fungus (mycology) culture test which analyzes a nail sample for an onychomycosis infection and delivers results in 24-42 days (LabCorp, 2023). 

MicroGenDX offers a next-generation sequencing test to identify both bacterial and fungal species for nail infections. The test also provides a corresponding antibiotic list, based on antibiotic resistance genes detected. The test also prioritizes 16 items for 24-hour rapid results, which are as follows: “Methicillin resistance, Vancomycin resistance, Beta-lactam [resistance], Carbapenem [resistance], Macrolide [resistance], Aminoglycoside [resistance], Tetracycline [resistance], Enterococcus faecalis Streptococcus agalactiae (group B), Streptococcus pyogenes (group A), Enterococcus faecium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum” (MicroGenDX, 2024).

Vikor Scientific has developed the Nail-IDTM test which uses advanced molecular PCR technology to deliver rapid results “through a value-based technology platform, ABXAssist™, which incorporates regional sensitivity and susceptibility patterns, medication costs, antibiotic spectrum of activity, and FDA guidance” (Vikor, 2020). The Nail-IDTM is able to deliver results in 24 hours after the sample is received, can detect polymicrobial infections simultaneously, and may identify as many as 49 antibiotic resistance genes to assist with treatment regimens (Vikor, 2020).

EuroImmun launched EuroArray Dermatomycosis, a PCR-based test that detects 56 fungi species causing skin, hair, and nail infections. This test detects 23 dermatophytes and six yeasts/molds in one reaction (EuroImmun, 2023).

Finally, BakoDx launched a Terbinafine resistance PCR test for Onychomycosis that detects 12 fungal mutations and terbinafine resistance in Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. This assay quickly detects resistance-associated mutations so that prescribing physicians can limit the use of ineffective medications and save patients time and costs. The assay has 99.9% specificity and 86% sensitivity (BakoDx, 2023). 

Current onychomycosis treatments encompass antifungal medications (i.e. tavaborole and efinaconazole) and laser therapy; other treatments in the pipeline include iontophoresis and photodynamic therapy (Gupta et al., 2017). Dermatophyte infections may be treated with fluconazole, terbinafin, or itraconazole, while Candida spp. infections respond best to fluconazole (Wollina et al., 2016). Oral antifungal treatments are effective, but typically cause several unwanted side effects; on the other hand, topical antifungal treatments are less effective due to difficulties penetrating the nail but cause minimal side effects (Leung et al., 2020). If the nail matrix is involved, which can typically be identified by yellow streaks tarnishing the nail, both a systemic and topical antimycotic drug are recommended (Wollina et al., 2016). Treatments may occur over a period of months or years before an improvement is noticed; further, a toenail onychomycosis infection is reportedly more difficult to treat than a fingernail infection, and a recurrence rate is estimated between 5% to 50% (Bodman & Krishnamurthy, 2022). An article by Gupta et al. (2019) report that a relapse is likely to occur within the first 2.5 years after the infection has been cured; moreover, they state that to maximize cure rates, biofilms should be disrupted, drugs with more than one route of delivery should be utilized, and non-traditional treatments should be used in a timely manner if initial treatments are not efficient. Preventive strategies include retaining clean footwear, keeping toenails short and using topical antifungal agents. 

Other fungal infections, such as dermatophytoma, may occur with onychomycosis infections, making these infections harder to treat; dermatophytoma can typically be identified “as a dense concentration of fungal hyphae within or under the nail plate and is generally white or yellow/brown in color, and linear (streaks) or round (patches) in shape” (Aly et al., 2018). A classification system has been developed to categorize the severity of an onychomycosis infection, termed the Onychomycosis Severity Index (OSI) (Carney et al., 2011). This score is determined by “multiplying the score for the area of involvement (range, 0 – 5) by the score for the proximity of disease to the matrix (range, 1 – 5). Ten points are added for the presence of a longitudinal streak or a patch (dermatophytoma) or for greater than 2 mm of subungual hyperkeratosis. Mild onychomycosis corresponds to a score of 1 through 5; moderate, 6 through 15; and severe, 16 through 35” (Carney et al., 2011).

Analytical Validity
Fungal fluorescent staining and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) PCR sequencing methods were compared to traditional direct microscopy with KOH detection methods for onychomycosis diagnostics; data from a total of 204 patients was used (Bao et al., 2018). Fungal fluorescent staining was found to have a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 89%, while ITS rDNA PCR had a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 90%; the researchers concluded that the “Use of fluorescence enhanced the sensitivity of direct examination by 12% compared with KOH. PCR-based sequencing increased the sensitivity by 6% compared with culturing” (Bao et al., 2018).

Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) is a PCR technique that can be used to diagnose onychomycosis developed by Lubis et al. (2018); this method was compared against the fungal culture gold standard. Samples were collected from 35 patients; this PCR-RFLP method was found to have a specificity of 28.57% and a sensitivity of 85.71% (Lubis et al., 2018). While the sensitivity is high, a low specificity may suggest that this technique be used alongside the gold standard for onychomycosis testing to further improve sensitivity instead of replacing the traditional diagnostic method altogether.

Joyce et al. (2019) measured the effectiveness of quantitative PCR and next-generation sequencing instead of traditional, but expensive, KOH and culture techniques in diagnosing 8,816 “clinically suspicious” toenail samples; approximately 50% of the toenail samples were found to contain fungi and bacteria. The authors stated that these “Molecular methods were successful in efficiently quantifying microbial and mycologic presence in the nail. Contributions from dermatophytes were lower than expected, whereas the opposite was true for nondermatophyte molds” (Joyce et al., 2019).

Gustafson et al. (2019) used a real-time PCR assay on 425 clinical samples of suspected onychomycosis; results were compared to traditional KOH microscopy results. “Of 425 clinical samples suspected of onychomycosis analyzed by fungal culture and PCR, 219 samples were positive for both (52% agreement). Of the 206 discordant samples, 95% were resolved in favor of PCR by DNA sequencing” (Gustafson et al., 2019). These researchers also analyzed a larger data set of 2,452 samples. It was identified that histopathology has a positivity rate of 85%, PCR had a positivity rate of 73% and culture had a positivity rate of 54%; “PCR outperformed culture compared to histopathology for sensitivity (80% versus 49%), specificity (92% versus 79%), positive predictive value (94% versus 77%), and negative predictive value (76% versus 52%)” (Gustafson et al., 2019).

De Bruyne et al. (2019) used attenuated total-reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy as an alternative method to diagnose onychomycosis; spectral differences were used for dermatophytes (1692 – 1606 and 1044 – 1004 cm-1) as well as for nondermatophytes and yeasts (973 – 937 cm-1). An accuracy rating of 96.9% was given when identifying between uninfected nails, and nails infected with either dermatophytes, yeasts, or nondermatophytes; further, when discriminating between dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophytes, classification rates were given of 91.0%, 98.6% and 97.7% respectively (De Bruyne et al., 2019).

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry has been used by Ho et al. (2019) to identify ergosterol, a sterol that most fungi cannot survive without, as a new diagnostic tool for fungal infected nails. Samples from 20 participants were collected and analyzed, which is a relatively small sample size. However, the researchers determined that this mass spectrometry diagnostic method “seemed to be better at detecting combinations of nail conditions” than current techniques, but further studies need to be completed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this method (Ho et al., 2019).

Mourad et al. (2019) compared Chicago sky blue staining and Calcofluor white staining to traditional KOH wet mount and culture techniques; samples from 50 patients with dermatophytosis of the hair or nail were used. Both Chicago sky blue staining and Calcofluor white staining of the hair and nail were found to be more specific and sensitive for the diagnosis of fungal infections when compared to traditional diagnostic methods because the KOH wet mount technique is reportedly a “simple, rapid, and inexpensive test but lacks color contrast and gave more false positive (artifacts) and false-negative results as compared to these new stain methods” (Mourad et al., 2019).

Caldwell et al. (2020) compared commercial multiplex PCR versus Periodic Acid–Schiff (PAF) testing for the diagnosis of Onychomycosis. A total of 209 Onychomycosis patients were recruited for the study and two toenail samples from each patient were sent for PCR and PAS testing. Of the 203 patients, "109 (53.7%) tested positive with PAS, 77 (37.9%) tested positive with PCR. Forty-one patients tested positive with PAS but negative with PCR, and nine tested positive with PCR but negative with PAS." The authors conclude that the clinical practice of PAS biopsy staining should continue for confirmation of a fungal toenail infection before treatment. PCR test may be added optionally as it allows for species identification (Caldwell et al., 2020). 

Clinical Utility and Validity
The frequency of onychomycosis infections was measured in patients with psoriasis compared to controls by Romaszkiewicz et al. (2018); data from a total of 2,527 patients was used, with 2,325 patients presenting with nail abnormalities and onychomycosis suspicion with no previous history of psoriasis, 102 psoriatic patients with onychomycosis suspicion, and 100 controls. The researchers used direct microscopy and culture to identify fungal infections, and found that “The prevalence of onychomycosis did not differ significantly between psoriatic patients and non-psoriatic patients with nail alterations” (Romaszkiewicz et al., 2018). However, it was identified that the characteristics of the fungi isolated from the patients “differed significantly between psoriatic and non-psoriatic patients,” which is important to note regarding treatment regimens (Romaszkiewicz et al., 2018). Another study, completed by Gallo et al. (2019), also measured onychomycosis prevalence between psoriatic and non-psoriatic patients; similar results were found. This study analyzed data from a total of 9281 patients and found similar infection rates between psoriatic and non-psoriatic groups; however, once again, the “spectrum of fungal species isolated was different,” with patients in the non-psoriatic group more likely to be infected with yeasts than patients in the psoriatic group (Gallo et al., 2019).

A meta-analysis was completed by Velasquez-Agudelo and Cardona-Arias (2017) to determine the utility, validity and performance of culture, nail clippings with PAS staining, and KOH testing for onychomycosis diagnostic purposes; this meta-analysis search utilized “5 databases and 21 search strategies.” Results showed that “The diagnostic tests evaluated in this meta-analysis independently showed acceptable validity, performance, and efficiency, with nail clipping with PAS staining outperforming the other two tests” (Velasquez-Agudelo & Cardona-Arias, 2017). Another study by Gupta et al. (2018) measured several types of onychomycosis confirmatory testing methods such as KOH, culture, and PAS. It was determined that PAS was once again “the most sensitive confirmatory test and KOH the least expensive”; incorrect diagnoses made without confirmatory tests led to the unnecessary spending of several hundred Canadian dollars, suggesting that confirmatory lab diagnostics are preferred before treatment (Gupta et al., 2018). 

Martinez-Herrera et al. (2015) measured the number of onychomycosis cases due to opportunistic molds; this retrospective study analyzed data from 4220 onychomycosis cases and found that only 32 cases (0.76%) were caused by opportunistic molds. This study also found that the age group most affected was between 41 and 65 years old and that females were affected slightly more than males at 65.6% (Martinez-Herrera et al., 2015). Further, the authors also reported that “The most frequent isolated etiological agents were: Aspergillus sp. and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis” (Martinez-Herrera et al., 2015).

Haghani et al. (2019) examined the species distribution of “causative agents” of onychomycosis. A total of 257 patients contributed samples, and the agents in these samples were identified through PCR. Onychomycosis was identified in 180 cases, and “51.1% of these cases were caused by non-dermatophyte moulds (NDMs), 35% by yeast and 10.6% by dermatophytes.” The authors also found that novel triazoles and imidazoles such as “efinaconazole, luliconazole and lanoconazole” showed “potent” activity compared to other antifungal agents. The authors concluded that “that obtained data will be useful to improve the knowledge of researchers, clinicians and dermatologists about onychomycosis distribution, species diversity and adoption of appropriate treatment” (Haghani et al., 2019).

Trave et al. (2021) studied the clinical utility of the EuroArray dermatomycosis kit, a PCR-based microarray to detect species involved in skin and nail infections. The researchers identified 100 patients suspected of onychomycosis who were evaluated based on three diagnostic methods: KOH preparation, culture, and EuroArray. Onychomycosis was diagnosed in 47 of 100 patients who were positive on at least one of three diagnostic tests and in 49 of 100 patients who were PCR-positive. Combining microscopy and PCR had better sensitivity than fungal culture, microscopy, and PCR alone. Culture rather than PCR resulted in more frequently positive results in molds, while dermatophytes were more frequently positive in both culture and PCR. Trichophyton interdigitale was the most frequent pathogen. The authors conclude that the EUROArray increased the sensitivity of microscopy and yields more rapid results than culture (Trave et al., 2021).

Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC remarks that an onychomycosis infection may be diagnosed through visual inspection, questioning the patient on their symptoms, or a fungal culture. The CDC states “to confirm the diagnosis, the healthcare provider might collect a nail clipping to look at under a microscope or to send to a laboratory for testing”. The following types of laboratory tests can confirm the diagnosis of onychomycosis:

• “Microscopy: Potassium hydroxide (KOH) stain can be performed in the office setting, but the accuracy of the test depends on clinician experience and technique. Nail clippings or scrapings are placed in a drop of KOH and examined under a microscope for the presence of fungal elements.
• Histopathologic examination with a periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain: Examination of nail clippings with a PAS stain can confirm the diagnosis of a fungal nail infection.
• Culture: Fungal culture can be used to identify the infecting organism, but the fungi may take several weeks to grow. 
• Molecular: Molecular testing, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, may be used to diagnose fungal nail infections” (CDC, 2022). 

The CDC also notes that the term “onychomycosis” is the technical term for a “fungal nail infection” (CDC, 2022).

American Academy of Pediatrics 
Within the AAP’s Red Book, recommendations include the following concerning diagnostic testing for onychomycosis: “Fungal infection of the nail (tinea unguium or onychomycosis) can be verified by direct microscopic examination with potassium hydroxide, fungal culture of desquamated subungual material, or fungal stain of a nail clippings fixed in formalin” (AAP, 2018b).

The AAP also notes that confirmatory diagnostic tests are similar to those for tinea corporis. According to the AAP Red Book, fungal culture to diagnose tinea corporis can be used, but that “polymerase chain reaction and periodic acid-Schiff stain evaluation of specimens are available but are expensive and generally are not necessary” (AAP, 2018a).

British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) 
The BAD have published guidelines for the management of onychomycosis stating that “The clinical characteristics of dystrophic nails must alert the clinician to the possibility of onychomycosis. Laboratory confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of tinea unguium should be obtained before starting treatment. This is important for several reasons: to eliminate nonfungal dermatological conditions from the diagnosis; to detect mixed infections; and to diagnose patients with less responsive forms of onychomycosis, such as toenail infections due to T. rubrum. Good nail specimens are difficult to obtain but are crucial for maximizing laboratory diagnosis. Material should be taken from any discoloured, dystrophic, or brittle parts of the nail” (Ameen et al., 2014).

Further, the BAD also stated that “Traditionally, laboratory detection and identification of dermatophytes consists of culture and microscopy, which yields results within approximately two to six weeks. Calcofluor white is exceedingly useful for direct microscopic examination of nail specimens, as the fungal elements are seen much more easily than with potassium hydroxide, thereby increasing sensitivity” (Ameen et al., 2014).

More recent molecular genetic tools were also highlighted as a newer diagnostic technique for the detection of dermatophytes. Regarding PCR testing, the BAD has stated that “Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays have been developed, which simultaneously detect and identify the most prevalent dermatophytes directly in nail, skin and hair samples and have a turnaround time of < 2 days. It appears that real‐time PCR significantly increased the detection rate of dermatophytes compared with culture. However, PCR may detect nonpathogenic or dead fungus, which could limit its use in identifying the true pathogen. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, which identifies fungal ribosomal DNA, is very helpful for defining whether the disease is caused by repeat infection or another fungal strain when there is a lack of response to treatment. However, this technique has not been implemented into routine clinical practice” (Ameen et al., 2014).

Finally, the BAD also stated that “histopathological analysis using periodic acid–Schiff staining is more sensitive than direct microscopy or culture. However, this technique is not currently available in the majority of dermatology clinics or mycology laboratories. Other diagnostic techniques under investigation include flow cytometry and confocal and scanning electron microscopy” (Ameen et al., 2014).

Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) 
The CPS notes that treatment effectiveness will differ depending on the type of fungal or mold infection, and therefore highlights the importance of sending nail clippings for culture to “allow differentiation between dermatophyte and non-dermatophytic fungal nail infections.” The CPS also remarks that “Terbinafine has excellent action against dermatophytes, but is less effective for Candida onychomycosis, and these cases are best treated with azoles” (Bortolussi & Martin, 2007). Reaffirmed in 2019.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) 
The AAFP published guidelines in 2013 regarding current trends in the diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis. These guidelines suggested C evidence ratings for the following statements: 

“Periodic acid-Schiff staining should be ordered to confirm infection in patients with suspected onychomycosis.”

When preparing a nail specimen to test for onychomycosis, the nail should be cleaned with 70% isopropyl alcohol, then samples of the subungual debris and eight to 10 nail clippings should be obtained” (Westerberg & Voyack, 2013).

The AAFP also stated that an “Accurate diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment and requires identification of physical changes and positive laboratory analysis” (Westerberg & Voyack, 2013). Further, a diagnosis flowchart was given and states that if a nail is discolored or gives reason to suspect onychomycosis, nail clippings should be obtained and looked at under a microscope; if the microscopic viewing suggests a positive onychomycosis diagnosis, treatment should begin to identify the organism (treatment includes culture and/or histologic evaluations with periodic acid-Schiff staining) (Westerberg & Voyack, 2013).

In 2014, Ely et al. (2014) gave a C evidence rating when examining both “Tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea pedis can often be diagnosed based on appearance, but a potassium hydroxide preparation or culture should be performed when the appearance is atypical” and “The diagnosis of onychomycosis should generally be confirmed with a test such as potassium hydroxide preparation, culture, or periodic acid-Schiff stain before initiating treatment.”

The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (JDD) 
The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology released guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of toenail Onychomycosis in the US. For diagnosis and testing, JDD recommends that: confirmatory laboratory testing should be performed using one or more of the following: microscopic examination (e.g., potassium hydroxide [KOH], periodic acid-Schiff test [PAS]), or fungal culture. While polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were considered useful for confirming diagnosis, they were deemed not cost effective enough for general use” (Lipner et al., 2021).

References  

1. AAP. (2018a). Tinea Corporis. In D. Kimberlin, M. Brady, M. Jackson, & S. Long (Eds.), Red Book: 2018 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases (pp. 801-804). American Academy of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/9781610021470 
2. AAP. (2018b). Tinea Pedis and Tinea Unguium (Onychomycosis). In D. Kimberlin, M. Brady, M. Jackson, & S. Long (Eds.), Red Book: 2018 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases (pp. 806-808). American Academy of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/9781610021470 
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14. Caldwell, B., Uchmanowicz, K., Kawalec, J. S., Petrofski, S., & Kurzel, C. (2020). Commercial Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction versus Periodic Acid-Schiff Testing for the Diagnosis of Onychomycosis. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc, 110(6). https://doi.org/10.7547/18-048 
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22. Ghannoum, M., Mukherjee, P., Isham, N., Markinson, B., Rosso, J. D., & Leal, L. (2018). Examining the importance of laboratory and diagnostic testing when treating and diagnosing onychomycosis. Int J Dermatol, 57(2), 131-138. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.13690 
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Coding Section 

Procedure and diagnosis codes on Medical Policy documents are included only as a general reference tool for each policy. They may not be all-inclusive. 

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