PERTUSSIS / BORDETELLA SPECIES CULTURE

Laboratory

Microbial Reference

Description

Culture and identification of Bordetella species

Specimen Type

• Nasopharyngeal swab (calcium alginate) in Regan Lowe transport media, collected within 4 weeks of symptom onset.

Collection Container

Calcium alginate swab in Regan Lowe transport media

Collection Guidelines

• For Collection Instructions, refer to: Specimen Collection Instructions: Bordetella pertussis PCR and Bacterial Culture Testing at DCLS
• For additional information, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Website: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/php/laboratories/index.html#cdc_lab_testing_procedures_specimen_collection_overview-specimen-collection
• Add collection date and time to submission paperwork.
• Add symptom onset date to submission paperwork.

DCLS approved submitters can request collection kits at DCLS_SSSKits@dgs.virginia.gov.

Storage Instructions

• Store specimens at 2-8°C
• Specimens must be received within 72 hours of collection

Transportation Instructions

• Transport: 2-8°C
• Specimens must be received within 72 hours of collection

Test Methodology

Organism identification by MALDI-TOF and conventional techniques

Causes for Rejection

• Specimens collected on cotton or rayon swabs
• Specimen lacks two patient identifiers or mismatched samples and test request forms
• Media that has expired prior to inoculation
• Demonstration of improper collection and/or improper transport media, or exposure to temperature extremes
• Broken/damaged/opened transport tubes
• Throat specimens, nares swabs, cough plates, and sputum are unacceptable specimens
• Regan Lowe transport tubes submitted without swabs
• Regan Lowe tubes with transport time exceeding 3 days from collection time
• True duplicate specimens (same collection date, source, and patient identifiers) may be rejected
• Specimen received out of the appropriate temperature range