Bordetella pertussis (Whooping cough), Nasopharyngeal by PCR

NSPHL Service Request Form

Test parameter Details
Method PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
CPT Code 83890, 83898, 83896, 83894, 83912
Preferred Specimen

Nasopharyngeal swabs (flocked cotton swabs or rayon swabs with aluminum shaft).
Do not collect with Calcium Alginate swab.

Swabs can be eluted in either saline (0.85%), Tris EDTA, Molecular Grade Water, Amies liquid media (e.g., E-Swab), UTM, M4, M4RT, or M6 viral transport media.
Specimen Identification Label transport tube with patient’s first and last name, DOB, and date/time of collection.
Special Instructions

Collection:

  • Guide NP swab into the contour of the Nares and into the nasopharynx. 
  • Place for 30 seconds while rotating swab.
  • Remove swab and place in Preferred Specimen eluate (see ‘Preferred Specimen’ section). 
Shipping Requirements
  • Store and ship refrigerated at 2-8° C.
  • Transport to lab as soon as possible.
  • If >24 hours from collection, ship frozen at –20° C or below on dry ice.
Sample Rejection Criteria
  • Specimens collected on calcium alginate swab (Calgiswab)
  • Inappropriate specimen transport
  • Mislabeled specimen
  • Unlabeled specimen
Turn-around-time Testing performed M-F
Results reported within 24 hours