Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Collect

An identified isolate is required for testing. 

• This test can be ordered on a clinical specimen that has been sent to our laboratory for isolation and identification of mycobacteria. See specimen requirements for culture of mycobacteria from a clinical specimen (AFB1, AFB3 or AFB7)
• This test can also be ordered on organisms identified elsewhere. Pure mycobacterial isolates should be sent in solid media such as a Middlebrook slant (7H10 or 7H11), Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) slant, or in broth (7H9, MGIT, MP BACT/Alert, VersaTrek).
• Specimen Volume: visible growth of the isolate on solid media or an isolate sent in ≥ 3 mL of broth.

Unacceptable Conditions

• Cultures received with incomplete identifiers.
• Mixed cultures; Note that prior to rejection, attempts will be made to isolate organisms. A re-isolation charge will be applied in these cases.
• Cultures containing mold.
• Solid media with insufficient growth.
• Cultures submitted on agar plates.
• Liquid media with < 2 mL.
• Leaking specimens.

Storage Transport Temp

Transport or mail isolates at ambient temperature. For nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), follow IATA/DOT category B and for M. tuberculosis complex isolates, follow IATA/DOT category A requirements for shipping biological materials.