Microscopic potassium hydroxide preparation.

Procedure 1. Place the specimen on a clean glass slide. Add 1 drop of 20% KOH. 2. Place the cover glass on top of the slide and gently press to get rid of any air bubbles. Blot excess solution from the finished slide preparation with the gauze. 3. Place slide on the microscope stage and start with a low-power (10 ×) examination. To make epithelial cells visible, reduce illumination by lowering the condenser. 4. Examine for fungal structures such as hyphae or yeast. If any look suspicious, use the 40 × setting (high-dry objective) to investigate further, as hyphae or budding yeast suggest fungus.