Test Detail

 

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Diphtheriae Culture Back to Test Directory
Test Description
  • Contact: Reference Microbiology (319) 335-4335
  • Test Request Form: CDC Submission Form. Call the lab at 319/335-4335 for form and instructions.
  • SHL OpenELIS Code: 710
Bacterial culture and identification of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. PCR for diphtheria toxin gene. You MUST call the lab at 319/335-4335 before sending.
Performed Avg. Turnaround Time Method
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 10 business days Culture, Multi-target Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Fee CPT Code(s)
No charge 87081
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type: Throat, nasal, or wound swab, pseudomembrane or heart tissue, pure culture isolate.
Collection Instructions: Swab: Collect from patient and immediately place in Amies clear gel transport tube and store refrigerated (2 - 8 degrees C) until shipment.
    Pseudomembrane or Heart tissue: Collect from patient and place in physiological saline without formalin in a leak-proof, plastic container. Store refrigerated (2 - 8 degrees C) within 30 minutes of collection until shipment.
      Isolates: Inoculate 5% sheep blood, chocolate, or trypticase soy agar (TSA) slant or plate and incubate aerobically at 35 - 37 degrees C until growth is observed. Store refrigerated (2 - 8 degrees C) until shipment.
        Alternatively, collect colony growth from a 5% sheep blood, chocolate, or TSA plate within 24 hours of plate inoculation using a swab. Place the swab in a tube of Amies clear gel transport. Do not incubate the Amies clear gel transport. Store the inoculated transport tube refrigerated (2 - 8 degrees C) until shipment.
        Temperature and Stability: Store samples refrigerated (2 - 8 degrees C) within 30 minutes of collection. Ship swabs, pseudomembrane, and heart tissue within 24 - 72 hrs. of collection. Ship isolates within 24 - 48 hrs. of growth or transport inoculation.
        Expected Results: See attached CDC final report.
        Shipping Instructions
        Contact the SHL Micro Lab at 319/335-4335 before sending a specimen. SHL will provide the CDC submission form and guidance for filling it out and shipping the sample directly to CDC. Samples must be received at CDC M - F. Samples should be shipped overnight with frozen cold packs.
        Comments
        This testing is performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Infectious Diseases Laboratories. This test and method will be named "Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous" on the SHL result report.
        Alternate Names
        C. diphtheria culture, Culture Corynebacterium diphtheriae