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microbial diseases laboratory

Test Order Neisseria meningitis Real-Time PCR

Pre-Approval Required

None

Supplemental Information or Form

  1. A sterile body site specimen that has not yielded growth on bacterial culture but is from a patient with a high clinical suspicion of bacterial meningitis or sepsis
  2. A completed submittal form with 2 patient identifiers (e.g. name and date of birth). Please include the date of collection and information on the patientā€™s suspected disease, clinical findings, antibiotics administered, and culture results
  3. For a CSF specimen please indicate its WBC count, protein and glucose levels
  4. Form LAB VPP01

Performed on Specimens From

None

Acceptable Sample/Specimen Type for Testing

  1. Minimum 0.5 ml blood, preferably preserved in EDTA
  2. Minimum 0.5 ml cerebrospinal spinal fluid

Minimum Volume Required

None

Storage & Preservation of Sample/Specimen Prior to Shipping

None

Transport

None

Sample/Specimen Labeling

None

Shipping Instructions which Include Specimen Handling Requirements

Ship at 4Ā°C on a cold pack using appropriate DOT/IATA approved shipping procedures.

Test Methodology

Real-time PCR

Turnaround Time

Five days

Interferences & Limitations

Culture positive specimens or those collected from nonsterile body sites are not appropriate for this testing.

Additional Information

Please contact the MDL Vaccine Preventable Pathogens Unit for special consideration if any of the above criteria cannot be met.

MDL Points of Contact

Vaccine Preventable Pathogens Unit: (510) 412-3700 

Monday-Friday 8 AM to 5 PM PT

Email: MDL.Submissions@CDPH.ca.gov

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