| Method |
Qualitative PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) |
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| Specimen |
Respiratory specimens |
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| Required Specimen Volume |
5 ml sample |
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| Minimum Specimen Volume |
>2 ml sample |
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| Special Instructions |
- Submit 2-5 ml digested/decontaminated respiratory specimen in a sterile container.
- Place each specimen in an individually sealed bag.
- Indicate specimen source on requisition.
- Identify method used for digestion and provide smear results.
- Include clinical diagnosis or relevant patient history on requisition (prior AFB positive patient)
|
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| Shipping Requirements |
Store and ship at refrigerated temperature 2-8° C, or frozen. Transport to lab as soon as possible. |
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| Stability |
- Room temperature - unacceptable, will be rejected.
- Refrigerated - 1 week
- Frozen - 1 month
|
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| Unacceptable Conditions |
Blood, paraffin blocks, stool, swabs, tissue, and urine. |
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| Turn-around-time |
24 hours, Monday through Friday. |
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