Upper Respiratory Tract - nasal swab or nasopharyngeal swab preferred. Lower Respiratory Tract – swabs and fluids accepted.
Use plain red or green culturette swab.
Acceptable Specimen Collect Alternatives
1 mL nasal wash, BAL, sputum, or endotracheal tube aspirate in sterile container, 1 mL CSF or body fluid in sterile container, 0.3 g fresh tissue in sterile container
Stability (from collection to initiation)
Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 1 week
Storage/Transport Temperature
Ambient if sent within 24 hours; on wet ice if sent >24 hours after collection
Performing Lab
Molecular Pathology - PCR
Performed
While specimens may be submitted to the lab at any time, testing runs are initiated at the beginning of the shift. This test is performed Mon-Fri on first shift only. Specimens must be in the lab by 6:30AM in order to be processed in the same shift. For any urgent requests please call the lab at 636-9820 to confirm that testing will be performed according to this schedule. Any requests for testing outside of this schedule may need to be approved by the laboratory director.
Unacceptable Conditions
Swabs in gel or charcoal media
Synonyms
Chlamydia pneumoniae PCR
C. pneumo
Methodology
DNA amplification
Reported
1-3 days
Reference Interval
Negative
CPT Codes
87581
Lab Use Only
Refrigerate upon arrival
Collection
Collect
Upper Respiratory Tract - nasal swab or nasopharyngeal swab preferred. Lower Respiratory Tract – swabs and fluids accepted.
Use plain red or green culturette swab.
Acceptable Specimen Collect Alternatives
1 mL nasal wash, BAL, sputum, or endotracheal tube aspirate in sterile container, 1 mL CSF or body fluid in sterile container, 0.3 g fresh tissue in sterile container
Stability (from collection to initiation)
Ambient: 1 day; Refrigerated: 1 week
Storage/Transport Temperature
Ambient if sent within 24 hours; on wet ice if sent >24 hours after collection
Performing Lab
Molecular Pathology - PCR
Performed
While specimens may be submitted to the lab at any time, testing runs are initiated at the beginning of the shift. This test is performed Mon-Fri on first shift only. Specimens must be in the lab by 6:30AM in order to be processed in the same shift. For any urgent requests please call the lab at 636-9820 to confirm that testing will be performed according to this schedule. Any requests for testing outside of this schedule may need to be approved by the laboratory director.
