Pathology Handbook

Fungal PCR – Histology Paraffin Scroll Prep

Send away test to: NSW Health Pathology, Westmead (ICPMR)

Test registration to be performed by CSP or Microbiology

PCR requests must be routed through Alfred Microbiology who will review the request and authorise if appropriate.

Anatomical Pathology (Histology) will cut paraffin tissue scrolls (10x10um) into a PCR tube from the biopsy material available once the test is authorised.

PCR tubes are passed to Microbiology (Serology) for test registration and send away.

Refer to the Microbiology Pan Fungal PCR handbook entry for further details.

Pathologist review of slides and tissue selection will be required.

Contamination free clean sectioning is essential (use clean blade, gloves, DNA zap and sterile PCR tube). Collect 10x10um scrolls into a labelled PCR tube.

Place tube into a zip-locked specimen bag along with request paperwork. Send tubes to Microbiology.

Panfungal PCR has limited clinical utility in FFPE tissue when no fungal elements are visualised on histopathological examination and testing should be discouraged due to the low diagnostic yield and high cost per clinically significant result.

Yield greatly increases when fungal elements are visualised on histopathological examination, therefore panfungal PCR remains a helpful tool in the setting where fungal cultures remain negative.