Comparison of Rapid Fungal Staining Technique 1% Chicago Blue 6B stain for the Diagnosis of Superficial Fungal Infections (Pityriasis Versicolor/ Tinea Versicolor) with 10% KOH Mount and Routine Fungal Culture on Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar with Olive Oil Overlay

1 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, D Y Patil University School of Medicine, Nerul 2 Professor & H.O.D., Dept. of Microbiology, D Y Patil University School of Medicine, Nerul 3 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, D Y Patil University School of Medicine, Nerul 4 Senior resident, Dept. of Microbiology, D Y Patil University School of Medicine, Nerul Corresponding Author Dr N. Kamath 601, Aston Tower, Plot No.9B, Sector 20.Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, 410210 Email: nktallur@gmail.com Abstract Pityriasis versicolor is a common skin infection all over the world caused by Malassezia furfur. 10% KOH mount is done for all clinically suspected Tinea versicolor by taking skin scrapings. 10% KOH has shown 66.66 % positives in this study. When we add 1% Chicago Blue 6B stain it enhances the results to 93.33 % which is as good as the Gold standard that is culture on SDA with a overlay of sterile Olive Oil. Culture has shown 96.66% positivity as Malassezia furfur grows well when there is oil overlay. So 1% Chicago Blue 6B stain can be routinely incorporated in Mycology laboratories and also in Skin clinics as the procedure is simple, rapid, reliable and can be identified with a good contrast and specificity/sesitivity is as good as culture. 1% Chicago Blue 6B is more efficacious than usual 10% KOH mount in diagnosing superficial fungal infections caused by Malassezia furfur.