Test Order

Human

Bacterial isolates (viable bacterial culture at room temperature or frozen stocks) and primary specimens [cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum and other sterile site specimen types].

0.25 mL for frozen bacterial stocks; 0.5 mL or more is preferred for primary specimens

Bacterial isolate stocks should be stored in a cryovial and kept frozen (-20°C or lower) prior to shipping.

When submitting viable bacterial isolates, incubate the inoculated chocolate agar slants overnight at 35-39°C with 5% carbon dioxide to ensure viability of the isolates.

Primary specimens (CSF, serum and other sterile site specimen types) should be refrigerated (2-8°C) after collection and frozen (-20°C or lower) within 96 hours for up to 60 days.

When submitting frozen bacterial stocks, use defibrinated sheep blood or trypticase soy broth (TSB) plus 15% glycerol. When submitting viable bacterial cultures at room temperature, use chocolate agar slants.

Research or surveillance specimens may be labeled according to protocol. Labels should not include personally identifiable information. The results reported should NOT be used for diagnosis, treatment, assessment of health or management of the individual patient.

CDC does not accept routine shipments on weekends or holidays. Please make sure packages arrive Monday – Friday. If shipping viable bacterial isolates, ship at room temperature with room-temperature cold packs. When shipping 10 or more bacterial isolates, submit frozen stocks only. Frozen bacterial isolate stocks and primary specimens (CSF and serum) should be shipped on dry ice and received frozen.

Enclose CDC 50.34 Specimen Submission Form in shipment. Email the tracking number in advance, particularly if prioritized testing is requested.

Ship To:
[Insert CDC Point of Contact]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
RDSB/STATT Unit 10
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
[Insert CDC Point of Contact’s Telephone Number]

All samples must be shipped in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal regulations. Upon shipment, submitter should send an email to the CDC POC providing shipping company, shipped date and package tracking number.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS), real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR), and/or slide agglutination serogrouping.

Bacterial DNA concentration, low specimen volume, collection time, and transport and handling conditions may impact the results. Primary specimens that were collected after antibiotic treatment, were transported under suboptimal conditions, or have a particularly low volume and/or bacterial DNA load may result in a false negative result. For molecular typing methods, primary specimens with low bacterial DNA load may not be acceptable for testing.

Additional microbiological and/or molecular testing can be completed as needed.

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