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CULTURE, DIPHTHERIA

Synonym

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Includes

If the organism is isolated, identification and toxin testing will be confirmed by CDC

Guidelines

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will perform a PCR test to rule out diphtheria if diphtheria anti-toxin has been requested to treat the patient. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/clinicians.html

Specimen Collection Requirements

Patient Preparation

Swab nasopharynx or throat at the site of membrane or inflammation. For wounds, swab base of cleansed wound. Note: Bleeding can occur if membrane disrupted.

Collect

Throat, NP, or wound swab in bacterial transport media

Preferred Volume

Single or dual culture swab

Minimum Volume

1 culture swab

Transport

Room Temperature

Rejection Criteria

Refrigerated or Frozen unacceptable

Stability

Ambient: 48 hours

Testing Information

Note

There has been only 1 case of diphtheria in the United States from 2009-2013.

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

2-5 days

Method

Culture/Identification

Referral Lab

ARUP (0060360)

Reference Values

Reference Values

Negative

CPT Codes

87081; if definitive identification performed, add 87077

Last Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2019 12:50:33 PM

Client Services: 503-413-1234