Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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

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

Minimum Volume
1 mL or 1 swab

Specimens transported in M4RT are unacceptable.

Submit an equal volume of specimen to transport media.  Storage or transport at -20° C is not acceptable. After collection, refrigerate up to 48 hours prior to shipment.

 After collection, transport to Referred testing refrigerated.  Referred to store at -80.

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

Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma

Mycoplasma hominis culture, Mycoplasma/ureaplasma culture, Ureaplasma culture, Quest test code 871, MYCOPC

Mycoplasma hominis/Ureaplasma Culture - 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.