M4-RT transport
1 mini-tip or regular flocked swab or NP swab
1 mini-tip or regular flocked swab or NP swab
Swab posterior nasopharynx with calcium alginate, rayon, or dacron swab and place in M-4 RT media. Can be transported and stored at refrigerated or room temperature for up to 5 days. Do not use BD Eswab collection kit.
Daily, once per day (specimen must be received by lab no later than 10:00 am to be included in daily run)
1 day
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
No Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis DNA detected.
Establish diagnosis of pertussis (whooping cough).
The test should be performed only on patients with symptoms and clinical presentation consistent with pertussis. This test should not be used as a screening test, or for identification of "exposed individuals". False positive results are possible when testing asymptomatic colonized individuals. Cross-reactivity has been shown to occur with Bordetella holmseii, but the clinical significance of this is unknown.
PCR test includes DNA detection for Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis.
41875-6
87801
32394
A dry swab in a dry sterile cup or container will be accepted but is not preferred due to poor recovery of organisms with this type of specimen.
NP swabs transported on Regan-Lowe or other transports with charcoal, or collected in BD ESwab kit are unacceptable.
Swabs at room-temperature or refrigerated for 5 days. Processed specimens (in 1% casamino acid) are good at refrigerated temperature for 5 days or indefinitely at -20C.
Specimen in 1% CasAmino solution or M-4 are stored for 30 days at -20C.