Microbiology Laboratory Tests: Taeniasis to Trichuriasis
Microbiology
Tapeworm, Other Diphyllobothrium latum, Hymenolepis nana, Hymenolepis diminuta
(Microscopic – Clearing Exam)
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Test Includes: Microscopic Examination | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 3 days | Contact #s: (512) 458-7560 |
Reference |
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Method: Microscopic Examination | |
Turnaround Time: 3 days | Reference Range: No parasites found |
Limitations: | Interpretation: |
Specimen Requirements |
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Specimen Collection: feces, proglottid, scolex | Sample Type: Proglottid; Scolex; Feces |
Volume/Amount Required: 15 mL liquid feces, 15 g feces |
Preferred Specimen: Proglottid; Scolex; Feces |
Collection/Preservation: Collect the stool in a clean, dry container. Immediately transfer to formalin. Store at ambient temperature. Collect proglottid or scolex and place in a clean leak-proof container with ethyl alcohol. | Storage Instructions: Ambient temperature |
Causes for Rejection: Unpreserved stool > 5 hours old | Sample Container: Formalin transport for parasites. Clean leak-proof container with ethyl alcohol for transport of proglottid, scolex. |
Sample Test Kit: | Availability: |
Diagnostic Information: Fecal specimens must be submitted fresh (less than five hours) or in formalin. Submit proglottid in ethyl alcohol. Referred material from hospital, private, and reference labs. | |
Specimen Submission |
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Required Request Form: G-2B | Specimen Handling: Handle body fluids using universal precautions. Formalin is a poison, handle with care. |
Transport Temperature: Ambient temperature | Shipping Requirements: Triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations for diagnostic specimens. |
Billing |
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CPT Code: 87177 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Toxocariasis (Serological – Forwarded by TDSHS to CDC for testing.)
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Reporting |
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Results Available: 3 weeks | Contact #s: |
Reference |
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Method: | |
Turnaround Time: 3 weeks | Reference Range: <1.00 (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 |
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Specimen Collection: Venipuncture | Sample Type: Serum |
Volume/Amount Required: 10 mL whole blood | Preferred Specimen: Single Serum |
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. The EIA procedure uses the excretory-secretory antigen of T. canis larvae to minimize crossreactivity with Ascaris spp and of other parasites. Results must be interpreted with caution, as broad variations in antibody response occur and levels may remain elevated for years after infection. Generally, antibody levels are highest in visceral larvae migrans (VLM). A Nonreactive result usually rules out infection with Toxocara spp. | |
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: 86682 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Toxoplasmosis (Microscopic – Giemsa Stain)
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Test Includes: Microscopic examination | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 3 days | Contact #s: (512) 458-7560 |
Reference |
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Method: Microscopic examination | |
Turnaround Time: 3 days | Reference Range: No parasites found |
Limitations: | Interpretation: Negative test results indicate that there were no visible parasites in the specimen submitted. |
Specimen Requirements |
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Specimen Collection: Biopsy | Sample Type: Tissue |
Volume/Amount Required: small piece of tissue | Preferred Specimen: Tissue |
Collection/Preservation: Collect a small piece of tissue by biopsy and transport at ambient temperature. | Storage Instructions: ambient temperature |
Causes for Rejection: Name on container/form do not match, broken in transport | Sample Container: Sterile, leak-proof container |
Sample Test Kit: | Availability: Monday-Friday |
Diagnostic Information: Serological results are normally used to diagnose toxplasmosis. Results of all other procedures must be interpreted in light of the serologic findings. T. gondi identified in histological preparations may not be the causative agent of the symptoms (many individuals harbor the organisms in their tissues but have no symptoms). | |
Specimen Submission |
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Required Request Form: G-2A | Specimen Handling: Handle body fluids and tissues using universal precautions |
Transport Temperature: Ambient temperature | Shipping Requirements: Triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations for diagnostic specimens. |
Billing |
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CPT Code: 87177 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Trachoma (Culture – DNA Probe) See also Chlamydia (Genetic Probe)
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Test Includes: Gen-Probe Pace 2C, Pace 2 for C. trachomatis, AmpCT (amplified) | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 2-3 days | Contact #s: (512) 458-7582 |
Reference |
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Method: Genetic probe for rRNA | |
Turnaround Time: 3 days | Reference Range: Negative for C. trachomatis |
Limitations: Results dependent on adequacy of sampling. Urine specimens can only be tested using amplified test. | 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 swabs contained in the PACE specimen collection kit can be use to collect patient specimens. | Specimen: female endocervical swab; male urethral swab, conjuctival swab; Urine (amplified only) |
Volume/Amount Required: 1 Gen-Probe collector per patient | Preferred Specimen: (nonamplified) Female Endocervical Swab; Male urethral Swab; Conjunctival Swab. (amplified) Urine |
Collection/Preservation: | Storage Instructions: |
Causes for Rejection: Wrong name on collection tube, Two swabs in tube, No swab on tube, Wooden swab in tube, Metal swab in tube, Insufficient amount of liquid to test, > 7 days old, > 80 uL of blood. | Sample Container: Gen-Probe collection tubes |
Sample Test Kit: Gen-Probe Pace 2C, Pace 2 CT | Availability: Monday-Friday |
Diagnostic Information: | |
Specimen Submission |
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Required Request Form: G-2B | Specimen Handling: |
Transport Temperature: Ambient temperature | Shipping Requirements: In accordance with federal shipping regulations for diagnostic specimens, non-infectious. |
Billing |
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CPT Code: 87490, 87491 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Trachoma (Serological – Forwarded by TDSHS to CDC for testing.)
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Test Includes: | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 3 weeks | Contact #s: |
Reference |
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Turnaround Time: 3 weeks | Reference Range: <1:1 (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 |
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Specimen Collection: Venipuncture | Sample Type: Serum |
Volume/Amount Required: 10 mL whole blood | Preferred Specimen: 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. See Lymphogranuloma Venereum. LGV serology available at CDC. Serology is by prior arrangement only. Once cleared, serum specimens are sent to the CDC. A four-fold rise in titer between acute and convalescent specimens is indicative of 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: 86631, 86632 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Trichinelliasis (Serological – Forwarded by TDSHS to CDC for testing.)
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Test Includes: | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: 3 weeks | Contact #s: |
Reference |
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Method: | |
Turnaround Time: 3 weeks | Reference Range: <1.00 (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 |
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Specimen Collection: Venipuncture | Sample Type: Serum |
Volume/Amount Required: 10 mL whole blood | Preferred Specimen: Single Serum |
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. An excretory-secretory antigen is employed to reduce non-specific reactivity; however, cross-reactivity with other parasitic antigen (strongyloides, filarial, malaria) may occur. This cross-reactivity is usually associated with results in the equivocal range. | |
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: 86784 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Trichinelliasis (Microscopic – Direct)
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Test Includes: Microscopic examination | |
Reporting |
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Results Available: | Contact #s: |
Reference |
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Method: microscopic examination | |
Turnaround Time: 3 weeks | Reference Range: No parasites found |
Limitations: | Interpretation: Negative specimen indicates that there were no visible parasites in the specimen submitted. |
Specimen Requirements |
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Specimen Collection: Biopsy | Sample Type: Tissue |
Volume/Amount Required: small piece of tissue | Preferred Specimen: Tissue |
Collection/Preservation: Collect by biopsy a small piece of muscle tissue. Hold at ambient temperature | Storage Instructions: Ambient temperature, do not refrigerate or freeze |
Causes for Rejection: | Sample Container: Sterile, leak-proof container. |
Sample Test Kit: | Availability: Monday-Friday |
Diagnostic Information: The suspicion of trichinellosis (trichinosis), based on clinical symptoms and eosinophilia, can be confirmed by specific diagnostic tests, muscle biopsy and microscopy. | |
Specimen Submission |
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Required Request Form: G-2B | Specimen Handling: Handle body fluids and tissues using universal precautions. |
Transport Temperature: Ambient temperature | Shipping Requirements: Triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations for diagnostic specimens. |
Billing |
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CPT Code: 87177 | Fees: |
Microbiology
Trichuriasis (Microscopic – Direct Concentration Exam ID)
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Test Includes: Microscopic examination |
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Reporting |
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Results Available: 3 days |
Contact #s: (512) 458-7560 |
Reference |
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Method: Microscopic examination |
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Turnaround Time: 3 days |
Reference Range: No parasites found |
Limitations: |
Interpretation: Negative specimen indicates that there were no visible parasites in the specimen submitted. |
Specimen Requirements |
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Specimen Collection: Feces |
Sample Type: Feces, worms |
Volume/Amount Required: 15 mL liquid stool, or 15 g stool |
Preferred Specimen: Feces; Worm |
Collection/Preservation: Collect stool in a clean, dry container. Immediately transport to formalin preservative. |
Storage Instructions: Formalin preservative |
Causes for Rejection: Unpreserved stool > 5 hours old. |
Sample Container: Formalin transport for parasites |
Sample Test Kit: |
Availability: Monday-Friday |
Diagnostic Information: Fecal specimens must be sent in fresh (less that five hours) and in formalin. Adult worm can be submitted for identification in ETOH or in 10 % formalin. Referred material accepted from hospital, private, and reference labs. |
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Specimen Submission |
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Required Request Form: G-2B |
Specimen Handling: Handle body fluids using universal precautions. Formalin is a poison, handle with care. |
Transport Temperature: Ambient temperature |
Shipping Requirements: Triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations for diagnostic specimens. |
Billing |
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CPT Code: 87015 |
Fees: |