Additional Testing Requirements

If traditional broth-based phenotypic drug resistance testing is desired, add TB1LN / Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, First Line, Varies; TB2LN / Susceptibility, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, Second Line, Varies; and TBPZA / Susceptibility, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, Pyrazinamide, Varies.

Shipping Instructions

See Infectious Specimen Shipping Guidelines in Special Instructions

Necessary Information

1. Specimen source is required.

2. Organism identification is required; if not provided then organism identification will be reflexed to CTBID / Culture Referred for Identification, Mycobacterium and Nocardia, Varies with additional charges.

3. Method of identification is required (eg, nucleic acid hybridization probes, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry [MALDI-TOF MS], DNA sequencing, line probe assay).

Specimen Required

Supplies: Infectious Container, Large (T146)

Specimen Type: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolate growing in pure culture. Isolates older than 5 weeks or not in a pure culture may require subculture for fresh, isolated growth so the turnaround time for results may be delayed.

Container/Tube: Middlebrook (7H10 or 7H11) medium slant; growth in broth medium (eg, Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube [7H9] broth) or on a Lowenstein-Jensen medium slant can be sent but turnaround time for results may be delayed because subculture to Middlebrook agar medium may be required. Organisms received in mixture may result in additional charges for isolation and identification.

Specimen Volume: Isolate with visible growth on solid media; if broth is sent, 3 mL or more of broth culture required.

Collection Instructions:

1. Organism must be in pure culture, actively growing. Do not submit mixed cultures.

2. Place specimen in a large infectious container and label as an etiologic agent/infectious substance.