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MICROBIAL DISEASES LABORATORY

MDL Form 444 - Mycobacteriology-Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) of MTBC (CA only)

Electronic Submittal Form Instructions

Use Lab Form 444 - Mycobacteriology-Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) of MTBC (CA only) to submit culture isolates, sediment, or miscellaneous specimens for Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) or Pyrosequencing (PSQ). Use the following steps to enter information for the submission of each specimen.

NOTE: We are unable to process samples with inadequate information.

1. On page 1, under ā€œSelect Test Requisitionā€, use the pull-down menu to select Lab Form ā€œMycobacteriology-Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) of MTBC (CA only)-444ā€. Provide all necessary information on page 1. For directions on how to fill out the fields on page 1, please refer to the ā€œGeneral Specimen Submission Page 1 Instructionsā€ page.

2. For Lab Form 444, it is REQUIRED that the following field be filled in:
2.1. Field 36 (Material Type Modifier) is a required field. If ā€œOtherā€ is selected, please specify in ā€œMaterial Commentsā€ (field #35).

3. This is the instruction for page 2 of Lab Form 444 for submitting specimens for California patients.

Contact information: For questions or tests that require approval, please contact the TB laboratory at 510-412-3929 (CDPHTBDST@cdph.ca.gov).

ā€‹Section
ā€‹Instructions
ā€‹Test(s) requested
  • ā€‹Multiple tests can be requested.
  • If MGIT DST is requested on a subsequent culture of the same patient, the collection dates of the two cultures should be at least three months apart.
  • If clinical conditions warrant repeat DST in less than 3 months, please provide the reasons in the ā€œCommentā€ section.
ā€‹First-line DST
ā€‹First-line drugs are INH, RIF, EMB and PZA. Streptomycin is NOT a first-line drug and is not routinely tested at MDL, because it is rarely used to treat TB patient in the US.
ā€‹Second-line DST
ā€‹Second-line drugs are moxifloxacin (MFX), amikacin, capreomycin and ethionamide.
  • The quinolone routinely tested at MDL is MFX. It is tested at 0.25 Āµg/ml. If an isolate is susceptible to MFX at 0.25 Āµg/ml, it predicts Levofloxacin (LEV) susceptibility. If resistant to MFX at 0.25 Āµg/ml, it predicts LEV resistance. When LEV is requested, MFX will be tested instead.
ā€‹Pyrosequencing (PSQ)
  • ā€‹Please check the boxes for reason(s) why PSQ is requested.
  • If the specimen type is ā€œsedimentā€, please make sure the volume is at least 0.5 ml. Please submit more volume especially when the smear is of low positivity.
  • PSQ performs well when smear result is ā‰„ 1+ or ā‰„ ā€œfew AFBā€. If multiple specimens are available, please submit the one with highest smear positivity and volume. If smear is ā€œrareā€, it can be accepted but the test sensitivity is reduced.
  • Do not send smear-negative specimen unless approved.
  • If PSQ is requested on a subsequent sample, the collection dates must be at least 2 months apart. If less than 2 months, do not send without approval.
  • Please only check the box for PSQ 2nd line panel as needed. PSQ 2nd line panel is provided when the patient shows resistance or intolerance to first line drugs or has other clinical reasons for using 2nd line drugs.
  • Please specify the reason(s) for PSQ MTBC ID. PSQ can differentiate M. bovis from MTBC not M. bovis, but cannot differentiate M. bovis with M. bovis BCG.
ā€‹Other tests
ā€‹If tests requested are not listed above, please email or call us before sending.
  • Genotyping. Isolates for genotyping should be sent by county laboratories. MDL may accept the request in rare occasions, for example, the county does not have the isolate, but MDL has. Genotyping can be performed on isolates only, not on sediments.
ā€‹Sample type submitted

ā€‹Please select the type of specimen you are submitting. Check one from Culture, Sediment or Miscellaneous.

ā€‹Culture

ā€‹ā€‹Please select the medium being sent on, such as LJ, 7H10, MGIT, MP, VT, etc.

ā€‹Sediment

A sediment sample resulting from processing a raw specimen can be sent for PSQ, not for DST or genotyping. MDL does not perform DST on a sediment sample.

Please select the AFB smear result. PSQ has low sensitivity for testing smear- negative sediments. When Xpert detects MTBC and the Ct values are ā‰¤ 28, PSQ may work. It requires approval before submitting smear-negative sediments.

ā€‹Miscalleneous

ā€‹ā€‹On rare occasions, a sample other than a culture or sediment may be submitted. Check one from ā€œDNAā€, ā€œRaw Specimenā€ or ā€œOtherā€. Do not send without approval. Please contact the TB laboratory prior to submission.

ā€‹Submitting Laboratoryā€™s Findings
Enter your laboratoryā€™s findings in this section.
If the XpertĀ®MTB/RIF test is performed, please provide the results and include the printout from the Xpert instrument containing Ct values in the specimen package.
ā€‹Comments
ā€‹Enter comments that are relevant to the requested test(s), such as a brief treatment history, suspicion of M. bovis or drug resistance, etc.


4. Print the completed Lab Form 444 front and back. The document is formatted for 2-sided printing.

5. Packaging and shipping: The submitter is responsible for making sure that all samples are packaged and shipped according to the current federal and state packaging and shipping regulations for "Category A" infectious substances (such as cultures) and/or "Category B" diagnostic samples (such as sediments, raw specimens or DNA samples).

6. Additional considerations when submitting samples:

6.1. Culture should be pure.

6.2. Use a tubed solid medium. Do not submit cultures on plated agar media.

6.3. Label sample tube with at least two identifiers (i.e. the patient's name, submitter lab number) and the date inoculated.

6.4. For safety, all submitted culture tubes must have a tightened screw cap secured in place using tape. For submitting liquid materials, using a tube with an O-ring cap is preferred.

6.5. Before shipment, insert the completed Lab Form 444 and all attachments between the inner and outer shipping containers.

6.6. Follow all other submission guidelines as described in the "General Specimen Submission Instructions" and guides located on the MDL Services and Test Catalog website.

6.7.   If you have any questions regarding sample submission, call the MDL for guidance ā€“ 510-412-3700.

 
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