Container/Tube: VTM media or equivalent Specimen: Endocervical, endourethral, or rectal mucosa (without feces) swab Alternate Specimens: Vaginal swab on children < 13 years Collection Instructions Place swab into VCM (equal volumes of fluid and VCM) or equivalent and transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is obtained when the specimens are refrigerated at 2-8°C prior to shipment. Specimens in VCM or equivalent should be frozen at -70°C or colder and transported on dry ice. Storage or transport at -20 °C is not acceptable. Note: Due to potential propagation of SARS-CoV-2 virus in Chlamydia culture cells, respiratory and eye specimens are no longer accepted Transport Temperature: Frozen if prolonged time before culture Stability: 48 Hours-Refrigerated 30 Days Frozen at -70 ( -20 Frozen is Unacceptable)
Reject Criteria: Specimens submitted in Viral Transport Media that do not support Chlamydia • Wooden shaft and calcium alginate swabs • Bacterial transport systems • Molecular transport systems • Respiratory specimens • Eye (conjunctival) specimens
Transport Instructions
Frozen if prolonged time before culture
Specimen Stability
48 Hours-Refrigerated 30 Days Frozen at -70 ( -20 Frozen is Unacceptable)
Reject Criteria: Specimens submitted in Viral Transport Media that do not support Chlamydia • Wooden shaft and calcium alginate swabs • Bacterial transpor
Methodology
Centrifugation-Enhanced Culture with Monoclonal Antibody Detection
Days Performed
Report available: 5 days C. trachomatis is associated with infections of the mucous membranes of the urogenital system, the upper respiratory tract and the eye. It may be sexually transmitted; resulting diseases include urethritis, cervicitis, salpingitis, epididymitis, proctitis and lymphogranuloma venereum. C. pneumoniae is associated with both upper and lower respiratory infections. Infections of the upper respiratory tract and eye usually occur in newborns exposed at parturition. In adults, eye infection may be transmitted by hand after contact with secretions. Isolation by tissue culture is recommended when testing individuals for legal purposes.
Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics' Nichols Institute, Inc. - Chantilly
