FUNGAL NAIL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Confirm your diagnosis with laboratory analysis. From your home.
Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing
Not every nail condition that looks fungal actually is. Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing is an optional laboratory analysis that confirms whether a fungal infection is present in your nail sample. When a Florida-licensed provider within JAWS Podiatry recommends it for your case, we send you a diagnostic kit — you clip a small nail sample at home and mail it to our partner pathology laboratory, and results are returned to your provider for review.
Important Service Clarification:
Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing is an optional paid diagnostic service provided through Fugly Toenails™ by JAWS Podiatry, available only to Florida residents who are physically located in the State of Florida at the time of the service. This service does not automatically authorize any prescription, product, or treatment. Diagnostic testing is recommended by a Florida-licensed provider on a case-by-case basis when clinically appropriate. Results are reviewed by a Florida-licensed provider to inform treatment decisions.
Why Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing?
Many nail conditions look like fungal infections but are caused by something else — psoriasis, trauma, aging changes, or other conditions. Empirical treatment (prescribing antifungal medication based on visual assessment alone) works for most cases, but not all. In some situations, a Florida-licensed provider within JAWS Podiatry may recommend laboratory confirmation before starting or continuing treatment.
Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing provides that confirmation through pathology analysis of a small nail sample. The test uses PAS staining — the gold standard laboratory method for detecting fungal elements in nail tissue, with high diagnostic sensitivity.
When your provider recommends this test, it means they want to confirm the diagnosis before prescribing systemic antifungal medication, or they want to investigate why previous treatment did not produce expected results, or your case presents features that require more than visual evaluation.
When your provider may recommend this test
✓ Your case presents features that may not be clearly fungal — for example, unusual color patterns, atypical nail shape changes, or clinical signs that overlap with other conditions
✓ You have not responded to previous antifungal treatment as expected
✓ You are immunocompromised or have medical conditions where diagnostic confirmation is clinically appropriate before starting systemic antifungal medication
✓ You have a history of psoriasis, eczema, or other skin conditions that can affect nails and mimic fungal infection
✓ You have contraindications to oral antifungal medication and your provider wants confirmation before recommending topical-only treatment
✓ You want additional clinical confidence before starting a prescription treatment plan
Note: The decision to recommend Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing is made by your provider based on your individual case, medical history, and clinical eligibility. The test is not required for every treatment plan.
How It Works (4 Simple Steps)
Step 1
Provider Recommendation
A Florida-licensed provider within JAWS Podiatry reviews your case and determines that laboratory diagnostic confirmation is clinically appropriate. Your provider explains why the test is recommended for your specific case.
Step 2
Kit Delivery & Sample Collection
Once you authorize the test, Fugly Toenails™ mails you a diagnostic kit containing a sterile collection container, detailed sample instructions, and a pre-paid return shipping envelope addressed to our partner pathology laboratory. You clip a small nail sample at home following the included instructions. No in-person visit required.
Step 3
Laboratory Analysis
You mail the sample using the pre-paid return envelope. Our partner pathology laboratory receives your sample, performs PAS staining and microscopic analysis, and generates a diagnostic report.
Step 4
Provider Review & Next Steps
Laboratory results are sent to your Florida-licensed provider within JAWS Podiatry. Your provider reviews the results and communicates findings to you, along with recommended next steps for your treatment plan.
Note: Typical timeline: 10–14 business days from kit delivery to results, depending on shipping and laboratory processing time.
What's included in the $260 fee
✓ Sterile diagnostic collection kit mailed to your Florida address
✓ Detailed sample collection instructions
✓ Pre-paid return shipping envelope to our partner pathology laboratory
✓ Laboratory analysis using PAS staining (industry gold standard for fungal detection in nail tissue)
✓ Formal pathology report
✓ Review of results by a Florida-licensed provider within JAWS Podiatry
✓ Provider communication of findings and recommended next steps
WHAT FUNGAL NAIL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IS NOT
What this service is not
Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing is a diagnostic laboratory service. It is not a treatment. A positive result confirms that a fungal infection is present, which helps your provider recommend an appropriate treatment plan — but the test itself does not treat the condition. Depending on the results, your provider may recommend a treatment plan such as Fugly Complete™ (oral + topical), Fugly Topical™ (topical only), Fugly Nail + Skin™ (nail + skin), or another next step when clinically appropriate.
This service is also not a substitute for in-person medical evaluation when clinically indicated. If your provider determines during any point of your care that in-person examination is necessary, you will be notified and provided with guidance on next steps.
Who Is This For? / Who Is It Not For?
May Be Appropriate For:
✓ Patients whose provider has recommended laboratory confirmation of diagnosis
✓ Patients with atypical presentation who want diagnostic clarity before treatment
✓ Patients who did not respond to previous antifungal treatment as expected
✓ Immunocompromised patients where diagnostic confirmation is clinically appropriate
✓ Patients with a history of conditions that mimic fungal nail infection
✓ Patients located in Florida who can receive mail and return the sample
May Not Be Appropriate For:
✗ Patients whose provider has not recommended this test
✗ Patients with clearly diagnostic clinical presentation for whom empirical treatment is appropriate
✗ Patients who have an active infection with signs of cellulitis (spreading redness, warmth, fever) — this requires in-person medical care, not laboratory testing
✗ Patients located outside the State of Florida at the time of the service
✗ Patients under 18 years of age
ABOUT OUR PARTNER LABORATORY
About our partner laboratory
Fugly Toenails™ partners with a professional pathology laboratory that performs specialized nail testing using PAS staining and microscopic analysis. Samples are handled according to standard laboratory protocols for biological specimens. Your sample is analyzed by trained pathology professionals, and results are reported directly to your Florida-licensed provider within JAWS Podiatry for clinical interpretation.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FEE SUMMARY
Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing Fee — $260 USD
✓ Sterile diagnostic collection kit mailed to your Florida address
✓ Detailed sample collection instructions
✓ Pre-paid return shipping to our partner pathology laboratory
✓ Laboratory analysis with PAS staining (gold standard for onychomycosis detection)
✓ Formal pathology report
✓ Review of results by a Florida-licensed provider within JAWS Podiatry
✓ Provider communication of findings and recommended next steps
Note: This is a diagnostic service. Any prescription treatment plan recommended based on the results is separately available through Fugly Toenails™ and priced independently. Payment is processed at the time the test is authorized.
How to request Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing
Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing is not a service you purchase directly — it is recommended by your provider when clinically appropriate for your case. The testing pathway typically begins with one of the following:
Complete the free Eligibility Screener — if diagnostic testing is clinically appropriate based on your screener responses, your provider will discuss it as part of the recommended pathway
Schedule a Professional Virtual Evaluation ($150) — your provider will review your case and may recommend diagnostic testing if clinically appropriate
Schedule a Live Virtual Consultation ($300) — discuss your case directly with a provider who can recommend diagnostic testing during the consultation
If your provider recommends Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing during any of these pathways, our team will contact you to authorize the test, process payment, and coordinate kit delivery.
Disclaimer: Fungal Nail Diagnostic Testing is a laboratory diagnostic service provided through Fugly Toenails™ by JAWS Podiatry for Florida residents who are physically located in the State of Florida at the time of the service. This service does not replace in-person medical examination when clinically indicated. Laboratory results are reviewed by a Florida-licensed provider within JAWS Podiatry to inform treatment decisions. Results may vary based on sample quality and clinical context. This service is available only when recommended by a provider as part of your case evaluation.