Chlamydia trachomatis Culture

Chlamydia trachomatis Culture

Microbiology

Once Chlamydia culture is selected as the source, a further description can be entered using the source dictionary. For instance:

• CER- Cervix
• CON- Conjuctiva
• THR- Throat
• URE - Urethra
• Fluids or Aspirates (epididymal, fallopian, prostatic, seminal, synovial)
• Genital (cervix, urethra) - vaginal samples are only acceptable in cases of sexual assault or abuse.
• Rectal
• Respiratory -bronchial wash, nasopharyngeal swab* or aspirate, sputum
• Tissue -endometrial or tubal biopsy, surgical or autopsy liver, lung or spleen

Use the free text comment section to define the exact location of where the specimen was obtained from for a more accurate processing of the specimen.

For Sexual Assault part of order set /SA

*It is imperative that the epithelial layer is sampled. Purulent discharge should be cleaned away from the site before collection. 

UTM-RT transport media

Note: Specimens which must be examined by culture include: all specimens for non-genital sites, cases of sexual abuse/assault, all medico-legal specimens from pre-pubertal children, <16 years of age, and test of cure.

Specimen transport media can be obtained from the microbiology department of the laboratory.

Conjunctiva - Remove purulent exudate if present. Moisten second swab with saline and rotate tip over conjunctival surface.

Fluids - Aspirate aseptically with a needle/syringe.

Cervix - Remove mucous with first swab and discard. Insert second swab at least 1 cm into endocervical canal and rotate 2-3 times to collect sample. Withdraw swab without touching any vaginal surfaces.

Urethral - Patient should not urinate for at least 1 hour before specimen collection. Express and discard any exudate. Insert second swab 2-4 cm into urethra, rotate gently 2-3 times and withdraw.

Rectal - Premoisten swab with saline and insert swab 3 cm into anal canal. Move swab from side to side to sample crypts. Withdraw swab. If faecal contamination occurs, discard and obtain another sample.

Sputum - Have the patient rinse mouth and gargle with water. Instruct the patient not to expectorate saliva or postnasal discharge. Collect an early morning specimen from a deep productive cough.

Bronchial Wash or Nasopharyngeal Aspirate - Collect 5 mL in a sterile container.

Nasopharyngeal Swab - Insert flexible shaft swab through nostril into nasopharynx and rotate swab in circular manner to collect cellular material.

Tissue or Biopsy Material - Should be placed in a sterile container.

Note:
All swabs must be sent in a universal transport medium (UTM).

Fluids should have an equal volume of Chlamydia transport media added to them.

Tissues and biopsies must be kept moist with universal transport media.

Faulty collection and delays in transport are the primary causes of test failure.

Daily

As Chlamydia is detected and identified the information is made available to the health care provider.

To maintain optimum viability, the specimen should be stored and transported at 2-8°C for processing within 48 hours of collection.

Specimen should be transported to the laboratory as soon as possible after collection.

Offsite, Referral Laboratory