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Legionella 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: Legionella Culture  
Synonym: Leigonnaires' disease or LD; Legionellosis; Pontiac Fever 
Method: Culture; detects L. pneumophila and other Legionella species in clinical specimens  
Availability: NPHL Special Microbiology Requisition Required. Test performed daily with final report in 7 days. Daily preliminary reports available.  
Specimen: Respiratory tract secretions and aspirates, tissue, fluid, sputum, abscess material.  
Collection Device: Sterile container

Specimen Labeling: Test subject to CLIA regulations and requires 2 patient identifiers on specimen container and requisition forms.  
Volume: Fluid: 0.5-1.0 mL (minimum: 0.5 mL)  
Storage/Transport: If transport to lab < 2 hours, store and transport ambient. If > 2 hours, store and transport refrigerated. If > 24 hours, store and transport frozen.

Shipping instructions, including specimen handling requirements during transport: Ship specimen Monday - Friday, in biohazard bag with absorbent material. Package and ship as Category B, Biological Substance, UN3373. See instructions and shipping address: http://nphl.org. Transport via NPHL ground courier (NPHL brown shipper not required). If courier not available, contact Client Services (866) 290-1406 to arrange pickup.  
Unacceptable: Non-sterile container or leaking container; specimen submitted in saline, formalin, or viral transport medium; dry specimen; urine, stool, other non-respiratory sites.  
Specimen Stability: Stable at ambient for 2 hours. Stable refrigerated for up to 24 hours.  
Reference Interval: Negative for Legionella species  
Reportable Disease: Isolation of Legionella species is reportable within 7 days. 
Comments: To prevent drying, submit specimen in sterile, non-bacteriostatic water. Do not use saline in specimen collection. DFA in addition to culture is suggested. Notification of positive results is provided. 
Revised: 7/11/2017 
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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