Which test is used to diagnose candidiasis?

Which test is used to diagnose candidiasis?

• A. Potassium hydroxide test
• B. Saline wet smear test
• C. Whiff test
• D. Normal saline smear test

Answer: (A)

Potassium hydroxide preparation is used to diagnose candidiasis. Applying KOH to a sample from skin, oral mucosa, or vaginal discharge clears away debris and keratin, making fungal elements easier to see under the microscope. Candida appears as budding yeast cells with pseudohyphae, which confirms a fungal cause. This method is quick, inexpensive, and widely available at the point of care. A saline wet mount can reveal various cells or organisms, but it doesn’t clear debris or highlight fungal structures as well, so it’s less reliable for confirming Candida. The whiff test is used to help diagnose bacterial vaginosis by producing a characteristic fishy odor after adding KOH, not candidiasis. The normal saline smear is a general preparation that doesn’t specifically enhance fungal visualization.

Potassium hydroxide preparation is used to diagnose candidiasis. Applying KOH to a sample from skin, oral mucosa, or vaginal discharge clears away debris and keratin, making fungal elements easier to see under the microscope. Candida appears as budding yeast cells with pseudohyphae, which confirms a fungal cause. This method is quick, inexpensive, and widely available at the point of care.

A saline wet mount can reveal various cells or organisms, but it doesn’t clear debris or highlight fungal structures as well, so it’s less reliable for confirming Candida. The whiff test is used to help diagnose bacterial vaginosis by producing a characteristic fishy odor after adding KOH, not candidiasis. The normal saline smear is a general preparation that doesn’t specifically enhance fungal visualization.