Human Hair Follicle Parasite Screen

18S Amplicon Sequencing for Follicular Eukaryotic Pathogen Detection

The PathOID.ai Human Hair Follicle Parasite Screen uses 18S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing to identify eukaryotic parasites and fungi present at the scalp and follicular level. Sequencing reads are classified against a curated reference database of nearly 500,000 18S rRNA sequences spanning 33 eukaryotic phyla, developed specifically for eukaryotic pathogen detection.

Why hair follicles: The hair follicle and surrounding scalp tissue represent a unique biological interface, a site of direct environmental exposure, immune activity, and potential organism colonization. Follicular DNA sampling captures eukaryotic organisms inhabiting the scalp microenvironment including ectoparasites, fungi, and opportunistic organisms that would not be detected through stool or urine sampling. Combined with other PathOID.ai sample types, hair follicle sequencing contributes to a more complete multi-compartment picture of your eukaryotic organism burden.

Organisms targeted include: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis (follicle mites), Malassezia species, dermatophytes including Trichophyton and Microsporum species, Candida species, Aspergillus species, and hundreds of additional eukaryotic organisms across 33 phyla.

Accepted Sample Type: Hair follicle with root attached (home collection kit included)

⚠️ This is not a diagnostic test. The PathOID.ai Human Hair Follicle Parasite Screen is an educational and research tool only. Results do not constitute a medical diagnosis and are not a substitute for professional medical evaluation. If you have concerns about scalp health or parasitic infection, consult a licensed physician or dermatologist.