Diphtheria Culture

TEST NAME	Diphtheria Culture
DEPARTMENT	BACT
TESTS	B9
DESCRIPTION	Screening procedure for isolation and identification of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in suspect cases of diphtheria utilizing conventional biochemical testing and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of resolution (MALDI-TOF) techniques.
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS	SPECIMEN: Throat exudate or pseudo-membrane CONTAINER: Throat - Bacterial Culturette (Amies); pseudo-membrane – in sterile saline COLLECTION: A throat swab taken from posterior pharynx, and areas of the tonsils showing dull white pseudo membrane. Avoid the tongue and uvula. Dacron swabs are best for collection. Detached pseudo-membrane collected in a sterile container with sterile saline. TRANSPORT CONDITIONS: Room Temperature (25±3°C): 1 day (swab) Refrigerated (5±3°C): 1 day (swab or tissue) Frozen (-15±5°C): Unacceptable
TURNAROUND TIME (TAT)	1 week
REFERENCE RANGE	Negative
TEST METHOD	Culture
CPT CODES	87077

TEST NAME

Diphtheria Culture

DEPARTMENT

BACT

TESTS

DESCRIPTION

Screening procedure for isolation and identification of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in suspect cases of diphtheria utilizing conventional biochemical testing and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of resolution (MALDI-TOF) techniques.

SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS

SPECIMEN: Throat exudate or pseudo-membrane

CONTAINER: Throat - Bacterial Culturette (Amies); pseudo-membrane – in sterile saline

COLLECTION: A throat swab taken from posterior pharynx, and areas of the tonsils showing dull white pseudo membrane. Avoid the tongue and uvula. Dacron swabs are best for collection. Detached pseudo-membrane collected in a sterile container with sterile saline.

TRANSPORT CONDITIONS: Room Temperature (25±3°C): 1 day (swab)
Refrigerated (5±3°C): 1 day (swab or tissue)
Frozen (-15±5°C): Unacceptable

TURNAROUND TIME (TAT)

1 week

REFERENCE RANGE

Negative

TEST METHOD

Culture

CPT CODES

87077

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