Select a language:

Diphtheria Culture

TEST NAMEDiphtheria Culture
DEPARTMENTBACT
TESTSB9
DESCRIPTIONScreening 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 RANGENegative
TEST METHODCulture
CPT CODES87077