Fungal Nail Service

5-Minute Fungus Test

Diagnosing a fungal infection based solely on visual examination can be quite challenging. While many practitioners may think they can identify these infections just by looking, the reality is often more complicated due to various influencing factors. At The Foot Fella Podiatry, we offer an innovative 5-Minute Fungus Test that accurately detects fungal infections using a simple skin scraping or nail sample.

Efficient and Accurate Testing

Our advanced Diafactory testing kit delivers results in just five minutes, enabling rapid diagnosis and timely initiation of the appropriate treatment, eliminating unnecessary delays.

Identifying Fungal Infections

Fungal nail infections can often resemble other nail disorders, making diagnosis challenging. Clinical suspicion typically arises from several distinct characteristics of the nail. Therefore, during your appointment at the clinic, we will perform a comprehensive skin assessment to rule out differential diagnoses. This thorough evaluation is crucial for ensuring an accurate diagnosis and formulating an effective treatment plan.

Appearance and Discoloration: This may affect a single nail, multiple nails, or, in rare cases, all nails. The first and fifth toenails are the most commonly affected, while fingernail infections usually occur unilaterally.

Common Presentations of Onychomycosis:

Superficial White Onychomycosis: Small, flaky white patches and pits appear on the nail plate, predominantly seen in children.
Distal Onychomycosis: The infection begins at the nail's tip, potentially lifting the nail and causing erosion at the free edge, which may lead to linear channels.
Lateral Onychomycosis: Characterized by white or yellow opaque streaks along one side of the nail.
Proximal Onychomycosis: This presents as white or yellow spots at the nail's growth area, with possible debris buildup underneath, leading to onycholysis.
Subungual Hyperkeratosis: Involves scaling beneath the nail, along with discoloration and thickening.
Endonyx Onychomycosis: The nail plate exhibits white discoloration without signs of onycholysis or subungual hyperkeratosis.

NICE Guidelines on Fungal Testing

The NICE guidelines recommend performing fungal tests when a fungal nail infection is suspected based on clinical features. This strategy ensures that treatment is appropriately targeted and effective, preventing the misuse of antifungal medications.

Appointment and Pricing

You can add our 5-minute fungal test to your routine appointment for just £45. This efficient test is a vital step towards accurate diagnosis and management of fungal infections. In alignment with NICE guidelines, our testing procedures are designed to yield reliable and clinically sound results.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please fill out the contact form. Alternatively you can call us at 01277 321059 or email sam@thefootfella.co.uk