Modernizing Nail Fungus Diagnosis with Rapid PCR Testing and PharmD Treatment Guidance

Onychomycosis, or nail fungus, is one of the most common nail disorders in the U.S., affecting nearly 14% of the population. Yet, despite its prevalence, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment remain challenging. Delays in confirming the infectious agent often result in trial-and-error therapy, prolonged symptoms, and patient dissatisfaction.

At CuraPath Dx, we offer a faster, more reliable diagnostic alternative: PCR-based molecular testing for nail fungus, combined with PharmD-reviewed antifungal treatment guidance—providing same-day, actionable results.

Why Traditional Testing Falls Short

Conventional diagnostic methods—like KOH prep, culture, or histopathology—are often unreliable for fungal nail infections:

Low Sensitivity: Fungal cultures miss up to 50% of true infections due to sampling errors or non-viable organisms.
Long Turnaround Times: Cultures may take 2 to 4 weeks, delaying treatment decisions.
Non-Specific Visual Exams: Clinical appearance alone often leads to overdiagnosis or misdiagnosis.
Inadequate Guidance: Even when fungus is identified, treatment recommendations are rarely specific to organism type.

These limitations can lead to prolonged use of ineffective topical therapies or unnecessary oral antifungals—delaying results and increasing the risk of side effects.

Our Solution: PCR-Based Nail Fungus Testing

Our lab offers real-time PCR testing specifically designed to identify the fungal pathogens responsible for onychomycosis with precision and speed.

Key Features:

Comprehensive Fungal Panel: Detects the most common dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes), non-dermatophyte molds, and yeasts (Candida spp.) involved in nail infections.
Rapid Turnaround: Results available within 48 hours of specimen receipt—no need to wait weeks for culture growth.
High Sensitivity and Specificity: Molecular detection identifies both viable and non-viable organisms, reducing false negatives.
Single Sample Collection: Nail clippings or scrapings—easy, non-invasive, and convenient for any clinical setting.

PharmD-Guided Antifungal Recommendations

Each positive test is accompanied by a review from our clinical pharmacy team, ensuring providers receive more than just a diagnostic result. Our PharmD report includes:

Organism-Specific Treatment Guidance: Topical vs. oral antifungal recommendations based on pathogen type and clinical best practices.
Patient Safety Considerations: Alerts for drug interactions, hepatic risk, or contraindications—especially important for elderly patients or those on multiple medications.
Chart-Ready Documentation: Concise stewardship summary ready for use in the patient record or for prior authorization support.

This added layer of clinical interpretation supports more effective, personalized care plans while promoting safe antifungal use.

Benefits for Providers and Patients

Our nail fungus PCR panel is designed to improve both clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.

Clinical Benefits:

Accurate pathogen identification supports targeted therapy and reduces unnecessary prescriptions.
Faster results allow for timely treatment decisions and better patient satisfaction.
Avoids overuse of oral antifungals and supports evidence-based prescribing.

Practice Benefits:

Streamlined workflow: a single sample, a single consolidated report.
Enhances quality of care in dermatology, podiatry, primary care, and wound clinics.
Reduces follow-up visits related to unresolved or misdiagnosed infections.

Who We Serve

This testing service is ideal for:

Podiatrists managing chronic or recurrent toenail infections
Dermatologists looking to confirm diagnosis before initiating systemic treatment
Wound care clinics treating complex nail bed infections or immunocompromised patients
Primary care providers seeking rapid, definitive answers to guide therapy

Partner with Us

We’re committed to helping providers deliver faster, more accurate fungal diagnostics with actionable clinical guidance. Our team supports every step of the process—from onboarding and logistics to ongoing clinical consultation.