Abstract: Provided herein is a real-time PCR-based method of detecting, in a sample, an agent causing onychodystrophy, wherein the agent causing onychodystrophy belongs to a secondary clade member including one or more primary clade members. Also provided are compositions and kits that finds use in implementing the present method.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of detecting an onychomycotic fungus in a sample, wherein the onychomycotic fungus belongs to a secondary clade member including one or more primary clade members. The method may include the steps of i) screening a sample using a first and second sets of secondary clade-specific primers to determine whether a secondary clade member among a plurality of secondary clade members is present or absent in the sample, where the plurality of secondary clade members includes (a) a dermatophyte, (b) a candida, and (c) a saprophyte, and ii) after determining the presence of the secondary clade member, screening the sample to determine whether an onychomycotic fungus is present or absent in the sample using primary clade-specific primers that are specific to a primary clade member that belongs to the secondary clade member. Also provided is a kit that finds use in implementing the present method.