Microbiology Laboratory Tests: B

Microbiology
Babesiosis (Serological - Forwarded by TDSHS to CDC for Testing)
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Test Includes: Assay for immune response to Babesiosis Infection

Reporting
Results Available: 3 weeks Contact #s: 512-458-7614

Reference
Method: EIA  
Turnaround Time:  3 weeks Reference Range:  Nonreactive
Limitations: May not detect a recent infection, or infection in a person with a severely compromised immune system. Interpretation: Nonreactive indicates that the patient does not have detectable antibody to the infectious agent. Reactive indicates that the patient has detectable antibody to the infectious agent, and depending on the clinical picture, may have a current or past infection. 

Specimen Requirements
Specimen Collection: Venipuncture Sample Type: Serum
Volume/Amount Required: 10 mL whole blood Preferred Specimen:  Single Serum
Collection/Preservation: red of tiger top tube Storage Instructions: Do not freeze or refrigerate whole blood. Separated serum may be held at 2-8°C
Causes for Rejection: Discrepancy between name on tube and name on form, insufficient quantity of serum for testing Sample Container: red or tiger top tube
Sample Test Kit: Availability: Specimen sent to CDC for testing
Diagnostic Information:  Prior notification is requested (512) 458-7760. A detailed patient history is required. Serum specimens are forwarded to the CDC.  Testing is done by indirect immunofluorescence. Definitive diagnosis is made by identifying intraerythrocytic organisms in peripheral blood. Cross-reactions may occur with malaria.

Specimen Submission
Required Request Form: G-2A Specimen Handling: Use Universal Precautions
Transport Temperature:  Ambient temperature for specimens on the blood clot, separated serum at 2-8°C (refrigerated) or -20°C (frozen). Shipping Requirements: Triple contain, separated serum may be shipped on cold packs (2-8°C), or frozen (-20°C) and mailed on dry ice.

Billing
CPT Code: 86753 Fees:


Microbiology
Bacillus anthracis (Culture - Isolation)
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Test Includes:

Reporting
Results Available: Contact #s:

Reference
Method:  
Turnaround Time: Reference Range:   
Limitations: Interpretation:

Specimen Requirements
Specimen Collection: Sample Type:
Volume/Amount Required: Preferred Specimen:   
Collection/Preservation: Storage Instructions:
Causes for Rejection: Sample Container:
Sample Test Kit: Availability:
Diagnostic Information:  See Anthrax Culture (Isolation) For Bioterrorism agents, See Bioterrorism agents (Clinical -Isolation).

Specimen Submission
Required Request Form: G1A Specimen Handling:
Transport Temperature: Shipping Requirements:

Billing
CPT Code: 87073, 87075 Fees:


Microbiology
Baywaters (Environmental)
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Test Includes: Conventional biochemicals

Reporting
Results Available: 1 day Contact #s: (512) 458-7611

Reference
Method: Conventional biochemicals  
Turnaround Time:  1 day Reference Range: Negative
Limitations: Baywaters must be collected and maintained at 0-10°C Interpretation: Negative test results indicate that the detectable bacterial level is below the threshold considered reportable.

Specimen Requirements
Specimen Collection: Baywaters Sample Type: Baywaters
Volume/Amount Required: Preferred Specimen:  Baywaters
Collection/Preservation: Collected by Seafood safety division, 0-10° C Storage Instructions: 0-10° C
Causes for Rejection: Temperature control out of range. Insufficient sample for testing. Sample Container: Water bottle provided by Seafood Safety.
Sample Test Kit: n/a Availability: Monday-Friday. 
Saturday-Sunday as required by program with prior notification
Diagnostic Information:  Submission of samples accepted only from Seafood Safety Division with prior notification.

Specimen Submission
Required Request Form: Seafood safety line listing Specimen Handling: In accordance with FDA Shellfish regulations for bay water testing.
Transport Temperature:  0-10° C Shipping Requirements: Leakproof container shipped at appropriate temperature (0-10° C) with temperature control bottle enclosed.

Billing
CPT Code: Fees:


Microbiology

Blastomycosis (Serological-Complement Fixation)
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Test Includes: CF test for antibodies to blastomycosis

Reporting
Results Available: 5-7 days Contact #s: 512-458-7514

Reference
Method: Complement Fixation  
Turnaround Time:  5-7 days Reference Range:  <1.8
Limitations: May not detect a recent infection, or infection in a person with a severely compromised immune system. Interpretation:

Specimen Requirements
Specimen Collection: Venipuncture Sample Type: Serum, Spinal Fluid
Volume/Amount Required: 2 mL serum/CSF Preferred Specimen:  Single Serum; Paired Sera; Spinal Fluid
Collection/Preservation: red or tiger top tube Storage Instructions: Separated serum may be held at 2-8°C.
Causes for Rejection: Hemolysis Sample Container: red or tiger top vacutainer
Sample Test Kit: Availability: Test performed 2 times per week
Diagnostic Information:  Although titers of 1:8 and greater are considered positive, confirmed serological diagnosis of blastomycosis by the CF test requires a four-fold or greater increase in titer between acute and convalescent specimens, and lack of corresponding titers to Coccidiodes immitis and Histoplasma capsulatum. Specificity is demonstrated by immunodiffusion. CF titer parallels severity.  Negative CF reaction does not exclude the existence of active B. dermatitidis infection, as less than 50% of sera from patients with proven blastomycosis are positive by this assay.  Test performed once per week.

Specimen Submission
Required Request Form: G-2A Specimen Handling: Use Universal Precautions
Transport Temperature: Cold (2-8º C) on ice packs if received within 48 hours from time of collection.  Frozen (≤-20°) on dry ice if received more than 48 hours from time of collection. Shipping Requirements: Triple contain, separated serum may be shipped on cold packs (2-8°C), or frozen (-20°C) and mailed on dry ice.

Billing
CPT Code: 86612 Fees:

 

Microbiology
Blastomycosis (Serological-Immunodiffusion)
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Test Includes:

Reporting
Results Available: Contact #s:

Reference
Method:  
Turnaround Time:  5-7 days Reference Range:  Nonreactive
Limitations: May not detect a recent infection, or infection in a person with a severely compromised immune system. Interpretation:

Specimen Requirements
Specimen Collection: Sample Type:
Volume/Amount Required: 2 mL serum/CSF Preferred Specimen:  Single Serum; Spinal Fluid
Collection/Preservation: Storage Instructions:
Causes for Rejection: Sample Container:
Sample Test Kit: Availability:
Diagnostic Information:  A precipitin band denotes recent or current infection, and is found in approximately 80% of proven cases of blastomycosis.  CF titer parallels severity.  Cross-reactions occur frequently with Coccidioidomycosis and Histoplasmosis. The test is performed once per week.

Specimen Submission
Required Request Form: G-2A Specimen Handling: Use Universal Precautions
Transport Temperature: Cold (2-8º C) on ice packs if received within 48 hours from time of collection.  Frozen (≤-20°) on dry ice if received more than 48 hours from time of collection. Shipping Requirements: Triple contain, separated serum may be shipped on cold packs (2-8° C), or frozen (-20° C) and mailed on dry ice.

Billing
CPT Code: 86612 Fees:

 

Microbiology
Bordetella pertussis PCR
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Test Includes: Real-Time PCR for Bordetella Pertussis

Reporting
Results Available: 1-2 days Contact #s: 512-458-7735

Reference
Method: Real Time PCR  
Turnaround Time:  2 days Reference Range:  Not detected
Limitations: Interpretation:

Specimen Requirements
Specimen Collection: nasopharyngeal swab Sample Type: Nasopharyngeal swab; nasopharyngeal wash
Volume/Amount Required: 1 swab or 5-10 mL nasopharyngeal wash Preferred Specimen:   Rayon or Dacron swabs with aluminum or plastic handles are acceptable.
Collection/Preservation: Submit swab in dry transport tube Storage Instructions: After collection, the swab should be inserted back in to the dry transport tube. Store at 2-8° C until shipment at refrigerated temperature (2-8° C).
Causes for Rejection: Incorrect swab, obvious contamination with blood, received at ambient temperature Sample Container: Swab or wash must be in sterile container without transport media
Sample Test Kit: Call (512) 458-7661 for swabs. Availability: Test performed 2-3 times per week
Diagnostic Information:  Detection of DNA by real-time PCR. Absence of DNA does not necessarily indicate lack of infection and could be due to collection error.

Specimen Submission
Required Request Form: G-2B Specimen Handling: Send on wet ice (double bagged) preferably, cold packs
Transport Temperature:  2-8° C (refrigerated) Shipping Requirements: Must be shipped within 48 hours of collection; on cold packs or refrigerated (2-8° C) during transport. Must arrive at the Laboratory within 7 days.

Billing
CPT Code: 87798 Fees:

 


 

Microbiology
Brevitoxin (Culture – Toxin Detection)
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Test Includes:

Reporting
Results Available: Contact #s:

Reference
Method:  
Turnaround Time:  2-4 days Reference Range:  No toxin detected
Limitations: Interpretation:

Specimen Requirements
Specimen Collection: Sample Type:
Volume/Amount Required: Preferred Specimen:  Shellfish
Collection/Preservation: Storage Instructions:
Causes for Rejection: Sample Container:
Sample Test Kit: Availability:
Diagnostic Information:  Specimens accepted from Seafood Safety Division only with prior notification. 

Specimen Submission
Required Request Form: G-1A Specimen Handling:
Transport Temperature:  2-8° C (refrigerated) Shipping Requirements:

Billing
CPT Code: Fees: