Necessary Information

Specimen source is required.

Specimen Required

The high sensitivity of amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) requires the specimen to be processed in an environment in which contamination of the specimen by Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis DNA is unlikely.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Specimen Type: Nasopharyngeal swab

Supplies:

Culture Swab - Liquid Stuarts/Single Swab (NP Swab) (T515)

Container/Tube: Rayon swab with an aluminum shaft placed in transport medium such as a green-top nasopharyngeal swab (rayon mini-tip) with Stuart's media (no charcoal), or Stuart's media with charcoal, or Amies media with or without charcoal (Transwab Nasopharyngeal with Charcoal System).

Additional Information:

1. Swab transport containers without charcoal must contain a pledget saturated with either Stuart's or Amies liquid media. Clear semi-solid/solid media is gel and will be rejected.

2. Other swab or media types may be inhibitory to PCR testing and will be rejected.

Acceptable:

Specimen Type: Nasopharyngeal (not throat) aspirate/wash or nasal aspirate/wash

Container/Tube: Sterile container with a screw top cap (no transport media)

Specimen Volume: Entire collection