GAS / MRSA OUTBREAK SCREENING CULTURES (VDH REQUEST ONLY)

Laboratory: Microbial Reference

Test Description: Outbreak response screening culture for Group A Streptococcus (GAS; Streptococcus pyogenes) or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Order Approval Required? Yes

Specimen Type:

• Oropharyngeal/throat swab
• Nasal swab
• Skin/wound swab

Collection Container: A routine swab collection system (such as an E-swab) containing transport medium such as Amies or Stuart’s medium

Storage Instructions:

• Specimens must be received and tested within 48 hours of collection
• Store specimens at 2-30⁰C

Transportation Instructions:

• Specimen must be received and tested within 48 hours of collection
• Transport specimens at 2-30⁰C

Test Methodology:

• Conventional culture techniques
• MALDI-TOF
• Oxacillin Screen Agar for the detection of MRSA

Additional Information: Culture is only performed for the targeted outbreak organism (GAS or MRSA)

Causes for Rejection:

• Broken, leaking, or expired collection container
• Incorrect collection container
• Specimens received greater than 48 hours after collection
• Specimens received out of the appropriate temperature range
• Specimens with no name or identifier, mismatched specimens and test request forms
• True duplicate specimens (same collection date, source, and patient identifiers)