How To Use - Just 3 Steps
Here's how to treat nail fungi using the MediNail: In-Home Onycho Test
STEP ONE: CLEANSE
Disinfectant Your Instruments With Bleach
Avoid leaving alcohol, betadine, hibiclines, or soap and water residue on your instruments to avoid destroying active organisms prior to sampling and submission of your sample to test. Dry all surfaces first before sampling. Only once the instruments are completely dry, may you then use these disinfected nippers to collect the sample.
Liquid Disinfectants
If you are using a liquid disinfectant, brush-clean the instruments first in soap and water then soak the instruments in 91% Alcohol, Barbicide or any intermediate level quaternary ammonium compound or bleach for 10 minutes and then completely dry the instrument. (Bleach can corrode instruments with repetitive use).
If you do not dry the instrument and use an instrument that is still wet with disinfectant, you may destroy the sample's microorganisms and degrade the DNA that you are trying to test. Only once the instruments are completely dry, may you then use these disinfected nippers to collect the sample.
STEP TWO: COLLECT
Obtain sample of the nail
The sample should be taken from the part of the nail that is most involved. If you can acquire debris underneath and/or superficial debris from the top of the nail plate without injury, it will improve the analysis.
You are obtaining simple trimmings of the nail from the leading edge of the nail closest to the discolored or thickened part of the nail without causing injury or pain. You must submit all debris that comes off when trimming the nail.
Any crumbling parts of the nail, or any scrapings from the top of the nail, and/or particles from under the nail that you can safely obtain should be included with any trimmings, crumbling nail, or any section of thick nail you can submit.
Collection of Sample
The collection bag should be the sample bags we supply or a new clean small Ziploc baggie to submit your sample.
Do NOT clean the nail plate with culture growth inhibitors such as: acetone, antiseptics, antifungal ointments, creams or gels before you take trimming of your nail.
Avoid leaving alcohol, betadine, hibiclines, or soap and water residue on your instruments to avoid destroying active organisms prior to sampling and submission of your sample to test. Dry all surfaces first before sampling.
STEP THREE: CONSULT
Review results with MediNail Specialist or physician
The OnychoTest™ can identify whether you have organisms present on the nail sample that may contribute to fungus or bacterial infections but until a physician or other medical professional can confirm the results physically or visually by examining your nail the results are tentative until you get a diagnosis. When you receive your results of the nail report, and if you have any questions not answered by your personal physician, we look forward suggesting what you need to do next if we hear from you.
How can the Physician confirm the results?
- First the physician must visually confirm that the nail that meets the criteria for a fungal nail. That would include the "Three D's" Discolored, Dystrophic (Thickened), Debris ( loose or impacted debris on top or under the nails)
- The medical professional may elect to confirm the information from your OnychoTest by using other tests to include a GMS stain, a PAS (Periodic Acid Shift) stain, a DTM culture (dermatophyte culture) a KOH prep. He may also perform other exams such as a biomechanical exam and/or gait exam to rule out other issues; such as microtrauma from friction, from ambulation, or contract with the ground, shoes or genetic deformities.
How can you contract nail fungus or other nail infection?
- From skin contact contaminates from other individuals that share the same living areas or personal hygiene items i.e.:
- From contaminates from sharing nail clippers, nail files, nail brushes, etc
- From skin barefoot contact on floors, clothing items, bed sheeting and wearing contaminated shoes
- From a genetic predisposition to biomechanical issues
Need to know your treatment options? Talk to one of our specialist!
Caution!
You are getting a representative sample only. You are NOT performing a deep biopsy of the nail or nail bed, but simply are sampling the nail clippings, or trimmings!
Do not proceed with this test, and do seek Medical Care if the nail is painful or infected with or without drainage. Especially if you are a high risk patient with diabetes, vascular disease. immune system issues (like HIV, genetic disorders like Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritics or other immune or viral disorders) to prevent potential infections leading to hospitalizations or death.
Do not cut skin or cut past the hyponychium (the base of the free edge of the nail) or nail bed unless the nail has lifted past it’s connection to the nail bed over time. Do not force or apply pressure to the nail plate or nail bed to obtain a sample.
Care should be taken not to injure the nail bed or cause injury or bleeding to the surrounding skin around the nail.
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