Collection Medium:

Minimum:

**IMPORTANT**-It is currently required that cultures be performed for 
suspected sexual abuse cases.
Transport media:  Swabs available from Hospital Stores (923740).

Testing
Schedule:

0700-1630, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Analytic Time:

Cultures are held 2-3 days.

Comments:

For maximum results the specimens must be aseptically collected with
some vigor (swabbing or scraping) to insure an adequate number of
epithelial cells.
A.  Cultures
    1.  Swab:  Swab area, return swab to transport tube.
        A.  Conjunctiva:  Firmly scrape everted lower eyelid;
                          place material onto swab and insert into
                          transport tube.
        B.  Genital:
            (1)  Female:  Before other specimens are obtained, insert
                 swab into cervical canal transitional zone and rotate
                 it against the walls.  Place swab in transport tube.
            (2)  Male:  >2 Hr post urination, introduce swab into
                 distal urethra (2-5 cm) before other specimens are
                 taken.  Place swab into transport tube.
        C.  Urethral, Female:  Unacceptable for Chlamydia PCR.
                 Submit urine specimen for PCR.

     2.  Nasopharyngeal wash:  Draw 3 ml phosphate buffered saline
         (PBS) into an infant bulb syringe, tilt head back and
         inoculate 1-2 ml into nostril.  Aspirate fluid from nostril
         into bulb syringe.  Place contents in sterile container.

     3.  Urine:  Unsatisfactory for chlamydia culture.  Submit urine
         specimen for PCR.

Methodology:

Shell vial culture with DFA.

Sample
Processing:

Immediately place specimen into vial of transport media and seal 
tightly.
Indicate specimen/fluid type on requisition.
Specimen should be collected and packaged as close to shipping time as 
possible.
Specimen source is required on requisition for processing.
Label transport tube with two patient identifiers, date and time of 
collection.
Maintain sterility and forward promptly to lab.
Submit in leakproof container.

Sample
Storage:

Specimen cannot be frozen.
Refrigerate up to 24 hours.

Transport
Instructions:

Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place coolant packs into styrofoam container.
Recommend express mail or equivalent if not on courier service.

CPT Code:

87140