Laboratory Submission Information

The Mycotic Diseases Branch offers a comprehensive service for the diagnosis, management and prevention of fungal infections through the provision of specialist laboratory services and expert clinical, epidemiologic and scientific advice.

Laboratory services

We accept specimens from state public health department laboratories as well as laboratories outside the United States.

We can provide advice to ensure selection of the most appropriate test or specimen types for particular patients and assist with the interpretation of laboratory results. Please contact us at:

Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO

To send us specimens or cultures, please fill out CDC Form 50.34 and ship to:
Mycotic Diseases Branch
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE, DASH Unit 40
Atlanta, GA 30333

Identification of cultures

Molds (including dermatophytes)
Yeasts
Dimorphic fungal pathogens including
- Blastomyces dermatitidis
- Coccidioides immitis
- Histoplasma capsulatum

Please send pure cultures on slants not plates. Please note that isolates from sterile body sites receive a higher prioritization for identification to species level than isolates from non-sterile or less-significant sites (eg. yeasts from sputum, yeasts and molds from catheter urine or stool).

Serodiagnostic tests for infections caused by:

Blastomyces dermatitidis
Coccidioides immitis
Histoplasma capsulatum
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Sporothrix schenckii

Please give us the appropriate clinical information. This is especially important if interpretation is required.

Sending samples for laboratory testing

All samples should be securely packed conforming to current regulations and sent together with a request form [PDF - 2 pages]. Please ensure that this has your address and telephone number (if you require an urgent result).

Epidemiologic services

We can provide expert advice on the conduct of epidemiologic investigation of outbreaks of fungal infections and guidance on the prevention of these infections. Please contact us at: