Mycoplasma hominis/Ureaplasma Culture

871

3 mL or 1 swab urogenital (vaginal, cervical, urethral swab or secretions) collected in a VCM tube or FDA approved equivalent transport medium

1 mL or 1 swab

Urine collected in: VCM tube or FDA approved equivalent transport medium • Infant (<1 year old) respiratory sample (sputum, bronchial washing/BAL, tracheobronchial secretions, nasopharyngeal or throat swabs) collected in: VCM tube or FDA approved equivalent transport medium

Ship on dry ice (-70° C).
Submit an equal volume of specimen to transport media.

Respiratory samples are only acceptable from children under 1 year old.

Storage or transport at -20° C is not acceptable. After collection, refrigerate up to 48 hours prior to shipment.

Note: Do not use M4RT. The room temperature formula cannot be used for Mycoplasma.

VCM medium or FDA approved equivalent transport container

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days

Molecular transport systems • Wooden-shaft and calcium alginate swabs • Urine containing preservatives • Raw specimens • Specimens received in M4RT transport media • Respiratory specimens from patients >1 year old • Specimens submitted in formalin

Daily

9-10 days

Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis are primarily associated with genital tract colonization and disease in adults and respiratory tract colonization and disease in newborns. Though controversial, these organisms have been associated with endometritis, chorioamnionitis, premature rupture of membranes, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, post-partum infections, and infertility. Of particular concern is the causal relationship between central nervous system infections in the premature newborn and U. urealyticum.