IMPORTANT! Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Local or State Health Department. Send approval to
NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.
NPHL has moved to an electronic ordering system, NUlirt, and it is now the preferred method to order all tests. Once ordered, print a "batch list" (see
NUlirt Guide).
Forms Required - Nulirt batch list or NPHL Test Request Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Testing
will not be performed without all required information.
Please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459 for further clarification.
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Test: |
Fungus Culture, General |
Synonym: |
Mycology Culture, Mold Identification |
Method: |
Standard reference procedures for fungal culture; DNA probes available on isolate for Histoplasma, Coccidioides, and Blastomyces |
Availability: |
Daily; preliminary report at 2 weeks; final report at 6 weeks for tissues, biopsies, and bone marrow and 4 weeks for all other sources |
Specimen: |
Tissue, pus, purulent fluid, respiratory specimens, body fluid, skin biopsy |
Collection Device: |
Sterile container or culturette swab |
Volume: |
5.0 mL fluid minimum |
Storage/Transport: |
Transport and store specimens from sterile body sites (fluids, tissues, etc.) at ambient temperature and refrigerate specimens from nonsterile sites (respiratory, GI tract, etc.) |
Unacceptable: |
Non-sterile or leaking container, insufficient volume |
Specimen Stability: |
|
Reference Interval: |
No fungi isolated at 6 weeks |
Reportable Disease: |
|
Comments: |
Indicate suspected organism(s) on the test request form. Additional patient history may be helpful; include the patient's occupation, history of travel or residence abroad, and any animal contact. Media is available for direct inoculation. If CSF cannot be transported within 8 hours, hold at 35 °C until the time of transport. For blood specimens, refer to Fungus Culture, Blood. Notification of positive results for mold or positive CSF cultures is provided. For skin, hair, and nail specimens see Fungus Culture Dermatophyte. |
Revised: |
2/13/2012 |
If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call
NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459.
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