Background: Most superficial fungal infections are caused by dermatophytes. Conventional methods of dermatophyte detection have inherent disadvantages. Advanced molecular-technology-based methods hold promise for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of dermatophytoses directly from clinical samples. 

Materials/methods: 4 multicenter evaluations were performed; A total of 604 clinical samples (261+200+103+40) with suspected fungal infection were obtained from the Dermatology labs.
Extracted DNA from skin scale speciment, plucked hair, nails, culture and swabs of human origin was detected on a real time PCR- based multiplex application for fast, reliable, ready to use and high throughput in vitro diagnostic of dermatophytes. This multiplex PCR system enables 7 different dermatophytes types detection within 2 hours. The test contains two ready to use mixes for detection of 7 most common dermatopytes types: 
[ 1 ] Trichophyton tonsurans [ 2 ] Trichophyton violaceum [ 3 ] Trichophyton rubrum complex                 [ 4 ] Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex [ 5 ] Microsporum canis [ 6 ] Microsporum gypseum           [ 7 ] Epidermophyton floccosum and Internal Control.
The dermatophyte detection rate was compared to KOH smear and culture. Inconsistencies between the methods were resolved by sequencing. 

Results: The RT-PCR results including DNA extractions were available within 4 hours. There are between 10-30% false negative results of KOH and culture compared to PCR, meaning PCR method has highly sensetivity and specificity compared to common methods.

	CUL+KOH+	CUL+KOH-	CUL-KOH+	CUL-KOH-
PCR+	254	24	51	52
PCR-	3	4	19	197

Conclusions: The DERMADYN kit based on multiplex RT-PCR platform is a rapid, more sensitive and efficient method for identifying dermatophyte species in clinical samples. Our findings justify its use as a first step in the diagnostic algorithm of superficial fungal infections.

evaluation of multiplex real time pcr for identifying dermatophytes in clinical samples- a multicenter study