Scotch Tape Preparation is used for diagnosis of which condition?

Scotch Tape Preparation is used for diagnosis of which condition?

• A. Ringworm
• B. Athlete's foot
• C. Tinea versicolor
• D. Candidiasis

Answer: (C)

Scotch tape preparation is a quick, noninvasive way to collect surface skin scales for microscopic examination. In tinea versicolor, caused by Malassezia species, this sampling method is especially handy because the collected material can be mounted and looked at under a microscope to reveal a characteristic appearance: yeast cells with short hyphae, often described as a spaghetti-and-meatballs pattern. This pattern reflects the yeast elements living in the stratum corneum and helps confirm the diagnosis when seen with a potassium hydroxide mount or stained slide. Context helps here: Wood’s lamp can sometimes support the diagnosis by producing a yellow-green fluorescence in tinea versicolor, but microscopy provides the definitive visual evidence. While other superficial fungal infections can be diagnosed with similar mounts, the tape-prep approach is classically highlighted as a simple way to detect the Malassezia elements seen in tinea versicolor, making it the best fit for this question.

Scotch tape preparation is a quick, noninvasive way to collect surface skin scales for microscopic examination. In tinea versicolor, caused by Malassezia species, this sampling method is especially handy because the collected material can be mounted and looked at under a microscope to reveal a characteristic appearance: yeast cells with short hyphae, often described as a spaghetti-and-meatballs pattern. This pattern reflects the yeast elements living in the stratum corneum and helps confirm the diagnosis when seen with a potassium hydroxide mount or stained slide.

Context helps here: Wood’s lamp can sometimes support the diagnosis by producing a yellow-green fluorescence in tinea versicolor, but microscopy provides the definitive visual evidence. While other superficial fungal infections can be diagnosed with similar mounts, the tape-prep approach is classically highlighted as a simple way to detect the Malassezia elements seen in tinea versicolor, making it the best fit for this question.