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Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal disease) confirmation and culture

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$90 | CPT Code: 87077 | Clinical microbiology 

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) requires immediate reporting of suspected and confirmed cases of Neisseria meningitidis by physicians, health care providers, and laboratories, whether or not supporting laboratory data are available. Call 303-692-2700 or 303-370-9395 (after hours) to report suspect or confirmed Neisseria meningitidis cases and determine recommended testing.

Specimen submission is not the same as reporting. Positive findings must be reported using the appropriate avenues.

This testing is part of the Active Bacterial Core Surveillance (ABCs) program within the Emerging Infections Program (EIP). Clinical laboratories that have an agreement with CDPHE are required to submit isolates of Neisseria meningitidis per 6 CCR 1009-1 and are eligible for fee-waived testing. 

Methodology

Culture

Acceptable specimen(s)

Sterile site isolates from:

  • Blood
  • Bone, bone marrow
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Internal body sites: sterilely obtained from biopsy/tissue/abscess/aspirate/fluid/swab from lymph node, brain, heart, liver, spleen, vitreous fluid, kidney, pancreas, vascular tissue, or ovary
  • Joint or synovial fluid
  • Needle aspirate or culture of any specific joint
  • Pericardial fluid
  • Peritoneal fluid (includes abdominal fluid, ascites)
  • Pleural fluid (includes chest fluid, thoracentesis fluid)

Skin and skin abscesses are not considered sterile sites.

Specimen labeling

A minimum of two of the following are required on the specimen label:

  • Patient first and last name
  • Date of birth
  • Medical record number (MRN) or patient identification (ID)

The following information is optional, but highly preferred:

  • Collection date
  • The chain of custody number, if ordered through LabOnline

The lab will not process samples without appropriate identifiers on the label. Be sure the information on the label matches what is listed on the test order.

Specimen stability

Transport microbial isolate specimens at 2-25° C.

There is no hold time for this specimen.

Turnaround time

Five (5) business days

Results will be available in LabOnline.

Rejection criteria

Incomplete or missing test order, incomplete specimen labeling, specimen collected in expired collection kits, transport tube with two swabs, using non-Aptima swabs, missing swabs, broken specimen containers, urine samples not in between the black fill lines, received out of hold time, received out of temperature

Ordering in LabOnline

  • Profile: Clinical Culture Testing, Micro
  • Testing type: N. meningitidis Confirmation/Culture
  • Matrix: Isolate

Contact information