How is a scraping for scabies mites performed? - briefly
A skin scraping is performed by placing mineral oil on the affected area, then using a sterile scalpel blade to gently lift the stratum corneum and collect the material onto a glass slide. The slide is examined under high magnification to detect Sarcoptes scabiei mites, eggs, or fecal pellets.
How is a scraping for scabies mites performed? - in detail
A skin scraping is taken from the suspected area using a sterile scalpel blade or a disposable dermal curette. The clinician follows these steps:
- Preparation – Clean the selected site with alcohol or saline; do not apply topical ointments that could obscure mites.
- Selection of site – Choose an active burrow or a region with intense itching, typically between the fingers, wrists, elbows, or genitalia.
- Application of oil – Apply a drop of mineral oil, petroleum jelly, or dimethyl sulfoxide to the skin. The medium loosens the stratum corneum and helps collect organisms.
- Scraping – Hold the blade at a shallow angle (approximately 20–30 degrees) and press gently against the skin. Move the blade back and forth several times, creating a thin, translucent specimen.
- Transfer – Place the collected material onto a glass slide. Add an additional drop of oil to cover the sample, preventing desiccation.
- Microscopic examination – Cover with a coverslip and examine under a light microscope at 100–400× magnification. Look for the characteristic oval adult mite, eggs, fecal pellets, or burrow tracks.
If the initial specimen is negative but clinical suspicion remains high, repeat the procedure on a different site after 24–48 hours. Proper labeling of the slide with patient details, site, and date is essential for accurate record‑keeping.