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Lab Manual for Moffitt-Long and Mount Zion

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Chlamydia Culture

Item Value
Approval req'd? No
Available Stat? No
Test code P699
Test group Chlamydia
Performed by Focus Diagnostics
Sendout? Yes
Method Tissue Culture, IFA
Patient Preparation Some spermicidal agents and feminine powder sprays interfere with Chlamydia testing and should not be used prior to specimen collection.
Collection Instructions Do not use wood swabs. Dacron or rayon on plastic or wire swabs are recommended for specimen collection. Specimen should contain columnar or cuboidal epithelial cells from the infected site. Collection kits CVM media can be obtained from Moffit-Long Laboratory or Mount Zion Laboratory.

Break or bend swabs to fit inside CVM tube. Immerse biopsy in CVM media. If fluid is collected, transfer 2 mL to CVM media, or 1 part fluid to 1 part CVM media.
Container type Special CVM media
Sample type Tissue or Swab submitted in special CVM media
UCSF Rejection Criteria Collected with wooden handle swab
Processing notes Freeze at -20C. Ship frozen to by Focus Diagnostics, 5785 Corporate Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630-4750. Order Focus test #81025 "Chlamydia trachomatis culture."
Normal range No Chlamydia isolated
Synonyms Parasite culture; C. pneumoniae; C. psittaci; C. trachomatis; TWAR agent; Inclusion conjunctivitis; Trachoma; TRIC; congenital infection; prenatal infection
Turn around times 2-4 days.
Additional information Culture should be the method of choice in cases of sexual assault or child abuse, ascending pelvic infections, throat and rectal infections, in ascertaining infection post-hysterectomy and when determining efficacy of antibiotic treatment. Chlamydia trachomatis is identified through the use of monoclonal antibodies specific for the major outer membrane protein present in all 15 known serovars of C. trachomatis but not C. pneumoniae or C. psittaci. Contact Microbiology if testing for the latter two species are clinically indicated. Substances that may interfere with growth or isolation of Chlamydia include antibiotics administered to the patient prior to specimen collection.
LOINC code 560-3
Last Updated 9/18/2012 2:17:50 PM
Entry Number 182

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