Specimen Submission for Diagnostic Testing

Public health department laboratory staff can forward approved specimens to CDC for specialized testing. CDC performs multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the primary laboratory procedure for Chlamydia pneumoniae identification. CDC does not use culture or serological testing as routine diagnostic methods. Refer to the C. pneumoniae diagnostic methods chart for more information.

Listed below is information about providing specimens to the CDC laboratory for C. pneumoniae diagnostic testing. Note: tests are more likely to detect C. pneumoniae when specimen collection occurs prior to commencement of antimicrobial therapy.

Approved specimen types

CDC accepts various specimen types for C. pneumoniae testing from public health laboratories. Refer to Specimen Submission for list of acceptable specimen types.

Specimen rejection criteria

CDC’s laboratory most commonly rejects specimens for C. pneumoniae testing for the following reasons:

• Specimens collected using calcium alginate swabs, cotton swabs, or swabs with wooden shafts
  • Use only sterile Dacron, rayon, or nylon swabs with plastic shafts; if available, use flocked swabs
• Specimens not stored or transported at proper temperature
  • Refer to Specimen Submission for shipment requirements
• Specimens with insufficient volume for testing
  • 200 µL specimen volume is required for completion of diagnostic testing
• Inappropriate specimen type
  • Refer to Specimen Submission for acceptable specimen types
• Specimens arriving with no, insufficient, or erroneous documentation
  • Refer to Specimen Submission for required documentation

Specimen collection protocol

Request permission to swab patients for C. pneumoniae and other respiratory pathogen testing who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Cough for ≥ 3 days and fever ≥ 100.0°F (reported or documented)
• Chest x-ray confirmed pneumonia

Collect an OP and NP swab specimen

Use only sterile Dacron, rayon, or nylon swabs with plastic shafts. If available, use flocked swabs. DO NOT use calcium alginate swabs or swabs with wooden sticks, as they may contain substances that inactivate some agents and inhibit some molecular assays.

For OP swab specimens:

Insert swab into the posterior pharynx and tonsillar areas. Rub swab over both tonsillar pillars and posterior oropharynx and avoid touching the tongue, teeth, and gums.

For NP swab specimens:

Insert flexible shaft swab through the nares parallel to the palate (not upwards) until it contacts the nasopharynx. Indications of contact include encountering resistance and the distance equaling that from the ear to the patient’s nostril. Gently rub and roll the swab.

During the Collecting a Nasopharyngeal Swab Clinical Specimen video the clinician collects samples by swabbing the posterior nasopharynx. While this video is not specific to C. pneumoniae, the swabbing technique is the same.

Specimen submission

View information about how to submit specimens to CDC, including a test directory, submission forms, and shipping information.

For additional information on investigating unidentified respiratory disease outbreaks, visit the Unexplained Respiratory Diseases Outbreak website.