Sexually Transmitted Diseases  >  Screening Tests  >  Appendix D

Screening Tests To Detect Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections - 2002

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Appendix D

Recommendations for Transport and Storage of Specimens for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Testing, by Testing Procedure Type

Readers are cautioned to refer to the manufacturers' test kit inserts for specific details. Information in this appendix represents general conditions for comparative purposes.

Intended Laboratory Procedure	Specimen	Transport	Storage
Culture Isolation C. trachomatis	Swab* Cotton Rayon Dacron® Cytobrush	≤24 hours at 4°C If delayed >24 hours, freeze to -70°C Transport media† Sucrose phosphate (2SP) or sucrose phosphate glutamate (SPG), supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum, 10µg/mL gentamicin, 100 µg/mL vancomycin, and 1µg/mL amphotericin B Micro test Multi-Microbe Media (M4; manufactured by Micro Test, Inc., Lilburn, GA)	Frozen to -70° in transport media Viability remains after ≥2 years, if frozen correctly Avoid storage at -20°C or in frost-free freezers
Culture Isolation N. gonorrhoeae	Swab Rayon Dacron Calcium alginate	≤5 hours Inoculate selective or nonselective medium and incubate at 35°C-36.5°C and place immediately in a CO2-enriched atmosphere 5-48 hours Can be transported in ambient air and temperature if inoculated medium has been incubated at 35°C-36.5°C in a CO2-enriched atmosphere for 18-24 hours before transport Do not refrigerate	Must be subcultured every 18-24 hours to maintain viability until frozen Should be stored frozen to ≤-70°C in trypticase soy broth plus 20% glycerine
Direct fluorescent antibody C. trachomatis	Swab Cotton Rayon Dacron Calcium alginate Cytobrush	Prepare slides immediately after specimen collection Air dry and fix slide for 10 minutes in alcohol or acetone Transport to laboratory ≤7 days at room temperature or 4°C	Fixed and unstained slides can be stored at -20°C for ≥2 years
Immunoassays (enzyme immunoassay or optical immunoassay) C. trachomatis	Swab Manufacturer supplied	≤24 hours at room temperature ≤5 days at 2°C-8°C Do not freeze specimens	Specimens must be processed ≤5 days after collection Storage after processing is not applicable
Nucleic acid probes C. trachomatis N. gonorrhoeae	Swab Manufacturer supplied	≤7 days at 2°C-25°C Swab must be immersed in manufacturer-supplied medium	Specimens can be frozen to ≤-20°C and tested ≤60 days after collection
Nucleic acid amplification C. trachomatis N. gonorrhoeae	Swab Manufacturer supplied	≤5 days at 2°C-27°C; ≤7 days if maintained at 2°C-8°C Swab must be immersed in manufacturer-supplied medium or in isolation transport medium	Specimens can be frozen to -70°C and tested ≤60 days after collection
_	Urine	≤24 hours at room temperature ≤5 days at 2°C-8°C	Specimens can be frozen to ≤-20°C and tested ≤60 days after collection
* New lots of swabs should be checked for toxicity to C. trachomatis isolation. Swabs with wooden shafts might be toxic to C. trachomatis or tissue culture cells. †Not intended as a compendium of commercially available transport media.

 

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