Test Detail

Diphtheriae Culture

Performed	Avg. Turnaround Time	Method
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.
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.
Shipping:
Contact the SHL Reference Microbiology 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. Throat, Nasal, or wound swab for culture and PCR: ship refrigerated overnight with refrigerated or frozen cold packs within 24-72 hours of collection. Specimens must arrive at 2-8 °C. Throat, nasal, or wound swab for PCR only (no culture): Ship frozen overnight with dry ice within 1 week of collection. Once frozen, do not allow swab to thaw. Pseudomembrane or heart tissue for culture only (no PCR): Ship refrigerated overnight with refrigerated or frozen cold packs within 24-48 hours of collection. Pure culture isolate for confirmation by culture and/or PCR: Ship refrigerated (2-8 °C) overnight with refrigerated or frozen cold packs OR ship ambient (15-25°C) overnight with room temperature cold packs.
Temperature and Stability:	Throat, nasal, or wound swab for PCR only (no culture): Freeze at -20°C or lower within 30 minutes of collection. Ship within 24-72 hours of collection. Throat, nasal, or wound swab for culture and PCR: Immediately place swab in an Amies clear gel transport tube and store within 30 minutes of collection refrigerated (2-8°C) until shipment. Ship within 24-72 hours of collection. Pseudomembrane or heart tissue for culture only (no PCR): Store within 30 minutes of collection refrigerated (2-8°C) until shipment. Ship within 24-48 hours of collection. Pure culture isolate for confirmation by culture and/or PCR: Maintain isolate on any agar or transport medium that supports the growth of Corynebacterium species.
Rejection Criteria:	Specimens will be rejected if received under these conditions: Throat, nasal, or wound swab for culture and PCR, Pseudomembrane or heart tissue for culture only (no PCR): Specimens received outside of 2-8 °C, specimens received outside the specified transport time. Throat, nasal, or wound swab for PCR only (no culture): Samples received thawed or without dry ice.
Expected Results:
See attached CDC final report.
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