Chlamydiae Species Culture

C CLAM

690

Chlamydia Culture

Endocervical, Endourethral, or Rectal mucosa (without feces) swab in VCM or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media

1 swab in VCM or equivalent

Vaginal swab on children <13 years

Place swab into VCM (equal volumes of fluid and VCM) or other FDA approved equivalent viral transport media and transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is obtained when the specimens are refrigerated at 2-8 deg. C prior to shipment. Specimens in VCM or equivalent should be frozen at -70 deg C or colder and transported on dry ice. Storage or transport at -20 deg C is not acceptable.

Due to potential propagation of SARS-CoV-2 virus in Chlamydia culture cells, respiratory and eye specimens are no longer accepted. The recommended alternative for respiratory and eye specimens is 4966-Chlamydia trachomatis Antigen, DFA.

Frozen -70° C (dry ice)

VCM medium or equivalent
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days

Specimens submitted in Viral Transport Media that do not support Chlamydia • Wooden shaft and calcium alginate swabs • Bacterial transport systems • Molecular transport systems • Respiratory specimens • Eye (conjunctival) specimens • Dry swab

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report Available: 3-4 days

Not isolated

C. trachomatis is associated with infections of the mucous membranes of the urogenital system, the upper respiratory tract and the eye. It may be sexually transmitted; resulting diseases include urethritis, cervicitis, salpingitis, epididymitis, proctitis and lymphogranuloma venereum. C. pneumoniae is associated with both upper and lower respiratory infections. Infections of the upper respiratory tract and eye usually occur in newborns exposed at parturition. In adults, eye infection may be transmitted by hand after contact with secretions. Isolation by tissue culture is recommended when testing individuals for legal purposes.