Microbiology Laboratory Tests: Calicivirus to Cholera
Microbiology
Norovirus
Related Agents: Norwalk-like Virus, Norovirus
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Test Includes: Real-Time PCR for Norovirus | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 1-3 days | Contact #s: 512-458-7735 |
Reference |
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Method: Real-Time PCR | |
Turnaround Time: 1-3 days | Reference Range: Negative |
Limitations: May not detect nucleic acid material in all cases | Interpretation: A negative result does not indicate that the patient is not infected. The laboratory test may not be able to detect very low levels of virus. |
Specimen Requirements |
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Specimen Collection: Feces | Sample Type: Feces |
Volume/Amount Required: At least 200 µL | Preferred Specimen: Feces |
Collection/Preservation: Collect fresh, no preservatives | Storage Instructions: store cold, 4° C, do not freeze |
Causes for Rejection: Improper specimen, bloody stool | Sample Container: Stool specimen must be in sterile container without preservatives. |
Sample Test Kit: | Availability: Test is performed 1-2 times per week |
Diagnostic Information: Detection of viral RNA by real-time PCR. Absence of viral RNA does not necessarily indicate lack of infection. Testing performed on outbreak specimens. | |
Specimen Submission |
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Required Request Form: G-2B | Specimen Handling: Keep cold, 4° C, do not freeze |
Transport Temperature: 2-8° C (refrigerated) | Shipping Requirements: Ship on wet ice |
Billing |
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CPT Code: 87798 | Fees: |
Microbiology
California Encephalitis (Serological)
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Test Includes: Enzyme assay for IgM and IgG antibody to California Virus | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 2-3 days | Contact #s: 512-458-7514 |
Reference |
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Method: EIA | |
Turnaround Time: 2-3 Days | Reference Range: Nonreactive |
Limitations: May not detect a recent infection, or infection in a person with a severely compromised immune system. May be cross reactivity with other arthropod borne viruses. | 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 |
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Specimen Collection: Venipuncture, spinal tap | Sample Type: Serum, CSF |
Volume/Amount Required: 10 mL whole blood, 3-4 mL CSF | Preferred Specimen: Paired Sera |
Collection/Preservation: red or tiger top tube | Storage Instructions: Ambient (Room) temperature |
Causes for Rejection: Discrepancy between name on tube and name on form, insufficient quantity of serum for testing | Sample Container: red top or tiger top tube |
Sample Test Kit: | Availability: Test performed on request |
Diagnostic Information: Generally seen in children less than five years of age in late summer. | |
Specimen Submission |
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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). CSF must be shipped 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 |
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CPT Code: 86651 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Candidiasis (Culture – Identification)
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Test Includes: Morphological and/or biochemical identification to species level. | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 7-10 days | Contact #s: 512-458-7586. |
Reference |
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Method: Morphological and/or biochemical testing. | |
Turnaround Time: 7-10 days | Reference Range: By report |
Limitations: | Interpretation: |
Specimen Requirements |
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Specimen Collection: | Sample Type: |
Volume/Amount Required: | Preferred Specimen: Pure Culture |
Collection/Preservation: No preservative. | Storage Instructions: |
Causes for Rejection: Culture infested with mites. | Sample Container: Triple-contained. |
Sample Test Kit: | Availability: Tested 5 days/week: Monday - Friday |
Diagnostic Information: Fungal isolates (pure culture) submitted to this Laboratory for definitive identification. Drug susceptibility testing on these organisms not available at TDSHS laboratory. | |
Specimen Submission |
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Required Request Form: G-2B | Specimen Handling: |
Transport Temperature: Room temperature | Shipping Requirements: Triple-contained and packaged to meet rigorous performance tests as outlined in the DOT, USPS, PHS, and IATA regulations for shipping of infectious substances. |
Billing |
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CPT Code: 87106 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Chagas’ Disease (Serological – Forwarded by TDSHS to CDC for testing)
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Test Includes: | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: | Contact #s: |
Reference |
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Method: | |
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: |
Specimen Requirements |
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Specimen Collection: Venipuncture | Sample Type: |
Volume/Amount Required: 10 mL whole blood | Preferred Specimen: Single Serum; Paired Sera |
Collection/Preservation: Red top or 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 top or tiger top tube |
Sample Test Kit: | Availability: |
Diagnostic Information: Prior notification is requested (512) 458-7760. A detailed patient history is required. Serum specimens are forwarded to the CDC. A four-fold rise in titer between acute and convalescent specimens is considered evidence of recent infection. | |
Specimen Submission |
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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 |
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CPT Code: 86753 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Chancroid (Culture – Identification)
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Test Includes: Conventional Biochemical Studies | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 3-21 days | Contact #s: (512) 458-7582 |
Reference |
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Method: Conventional biochemical studies | |
Turnaround Time: 21 days | Reference Range: No bacteria isolated. |
Limitations: Careful selection and disinfection of specimen collection sites is imperative in obtaining a suitable specimen for isolation of Haemophilus species. | Interpretation: Isolation of H. ducreyi is considered clinically significant. |
Specimen Requirements |
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Specimen Collection: scrapings from genital lesions | Sample Type: genital lesion, aspirates from buboes, urethral swabs |
Volume/Amount Required: small amount of scrapings | Preferred Specimen: genital lesions |
Collection/Preservation: Material should be collected from the exposed base or margin of the lesion. Needle aspirates of pus from buboes should not replace lesional smears and cultures. Recovery of nonchancroid isolates from the urogenital tract can be accomplished by collecting urethral swab with a flexible shaft mini-tipped swab. | Storage Instructions: 2-8° C |
Causes for Rejection: Expired transport medium. | Sample Container: Sterile screw-cap tube or modified stuart’s transport. |
Sample Test Kit: | Availability: Monday-Friday |
Diagnostic Information: Prior notification requested. (512) 458-7582 – Clinical Bacteriology | |
Specimen Submission |
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Required Request Form: G-2B | Specimen Handling: Body fluids handled with universal precautions. |
Transport Temperature: 2-8° C | Shipping Requirements: Triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations for diagnostic specimens. |
Billing |
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CPT Code: 87070 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Chlamydia (Genetic Probe)
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Test Includes: GEN-PROBE APTIMA COMBO 2® Assay | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 2-3 days | Contact #s: (512) 776-7657 |
Reference |
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Method: GEN-PROBE APTIMA COMBO 2® Assay | |
Turnaround Time: 2-3 days | Reference Range: Negative for Chlamydia trachomatis |
Limitations: Results dependent on adequacy of sampling. Refer to package insert of the appropriate GEN-PROBE specimen collection kit. The APTIMA COMBO 2® Assay is not intended for the evaluation of suspected sexual abuse or for other medico-legal indications | Interpretation: Negative results indicate that the patient does not have detectable amounts of C. trachomatis rRNA. |
Specimen Requirements |
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Specimen Collection: Only specimens collected in APTIMA ®collection kits can be processed for testing. There are three kits we use for our testing; APTIMA® Urine Specimen Collection Kit for Male and Female Urine Specimens APTIMA® Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit for Endocervical and Male Urethral Swab Specimens APTIMA® Vaginal Swab Specimens kit |
Sample Type: Female urine, vaginal and endocervical swab. Male urine and urethral swab. |
Volume/Amount Required: Refer to package insert of APTIMA® Specimen Collection Kit for detailed directions. | Preferred Specimen: Urine (Male or Female); Female Endocervical Swab; Female Vaginal Swab; Male Urethral Swab |
Collection/Preservation: Only swabs contained in the GEN-PROBE® APTIMA®specimen collection kit can be used to collect patient specimens. | Storage Instructions: Store at ambient temperature. |
Causes for Rejection: Wrong name on collection tube, two swabs in tube, no swab on tube, a cleaning swab or a swab not supplied by GEN-PROBE. Urine must fall between the two black indicator lines on the tube label. | Sample Container: APTIMA® Urine Specimen Collection Kit for Male and Female Urine Specimen,swabs APTIMA® Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit for Endocervical and Male Urethral Swab Specimens and APTIMA® Vaginal Swab Specimens |
Sample Test Kit: GEN-PROBE APTIMA 2 COMBO ASSAY | Availability: Tested Monday – Friday. |
Diagnostic Information: GEN-PROBE APTIMA COMBO 2® Assay is available only to those in STD and Family Planning Programs and to adolescent THSteps (EPSDT) patients for whom collectors are provided. Specimen requirements: Female urine, vaginal swab, or endocervical swab and male urine and urethral swabs using the appropriate GEN-PROBE® APTIMA®Specimen Collection Kit. Only swabs contained in the GEN-PROBE® APTIMA® specimen collection kit can be used to collect patient specimens. | |
Specimen Submission |
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Required Request Form: G-2B, G-THSTEPS for THSteps Medicaid | Specimen Handling: body fluid handled with universal precautions |
Transport Temperature: Ambient temperature (2°-30°C) | Shipping Requirements: In accordance with federal shipping regulations for diagnostic specimens, noninfectious. |
Billing |
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CPT Code: 87491 | Fees: |