Chlamydia Trachomatis Culture  

 
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: Chlamydia trachomatis Culture  
Synonym: CT Culture 
Method: Shell vial culture  
Availability: Cultures set up Monday, Wednesday, Saturday; results available 48 hours after set-up  
Specimen: Cervical, urethral, rectal, eye, and infant nasopharyngeal swabs, or tissue  
Collection Device: Starswab Multitrans Collection and TransportSystem, multipurpose viral/chlamydia/mycoplasma transport media, or Chlamydia transport media

Specimen Collection:
1. Aseptically remove sterile swab from package
2. Collect specimen by vigorously swabbing site involved
3. Aseptically remove cap from vial
4. Insert swab into medium and break swab at the scored line
5. Replace cap to vial. Close tightly
6. Fill out vial label with patient's name, date of birth, and source of specimen
7. Refrigerate during transport  
Volume:  
Storage/Transport: Refrigerate; if time to setup in laboratory will be > 24 hours then freeze  
Unacceptable: Cotton swabs with wooden shaft, urine, specimens from discharges, samples in Amplicor, EOA, GenProbe, or LCX STD kits  
Specimen Stability: Refrigerated, up to 24 hours  
Reference Interval: Negative  
Reportable Disease:  
Comments:  
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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