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Streptococcus (A, B, pneumoniae) confirmation and culture

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$65 | CPT Code: 87551 | Clinical microbiology lab

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) requires reporting of all suspected or confirmed cases of Streptococcus (A, B, pneumoniae) by physicians, health care providers, and laboratories. Call 303-692-2700 or 303-370-9395 (after hours) to report suspected or confirmed Streptococcus (A, B, pneumoniae) cases.

This testing is part of the Active Bacterial Core Surveillance (ABCs) within the Emerging Infections Program (EIP). Clinical laboratories located in the five-county Denver metro area (Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties) are required to submit isolates for Streptococcus (A, B, pneumoniae) to the State Lab per 6 CCR 1009-1 and are eligible for fee-waived testing. 

Methodology

Culture

Acceptable specimen(s)

Isolate (IS) or microbial isolate specimen transported in the one of the following media:

  • Swabs (Amies, Stuarts, Eswabs)
  • Agar culture plates or slants

Group A streptococci

  • Sterile site, muscle tissue, wound or surgical tissue/specimen is accompanied by necrotizing fasciitis or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS).
  • If no isolate is available from culture, clinical material (from normally sterile sites) from positive culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDT) of group A streptococci should be submitted.

Group B streptococci

  • Sterile site
  • If group B streptococci is isolated from placenta and/or amniotic fluid and a fetal death occurs, it may be considered a maternal case for EIP, and the isolate is requested. Routine submission of all group B streptococci isolates from placental/amniotic fluid specimens is not required.
  • If no isolate is available from culture, clinical material (from normally sterile sites) from positive culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDT) of group B streptococci should be submitted.

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome

  • Sterile site
  • If no isolate is available from culture, clinical material (from normally sterile sites) from positive culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDT) of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome should be submitted.

Streptococcus pneumoniae

  • Sterile site
  • If no isolate is available from culture, clinical material (from normally sterile sites) from positive culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDT) of Streptococcus pneumoniae should be submitted.

Specimen labeling

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

  • Patient first and last name
  • Date of birth (DOB)
  • 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 State 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 requisition.

Specimen stability

Preserved stool in Cary Blair

  • Transport microbial isolate specimens at 2-25° C.
  • There is no hold time for this specimen.

Turnaround time

N/A

Rejection criteria

  • Incomplete or missing test requisition form
  • Incomplete specimen labeling
  • Specimen collected in expired collection kits
  • Specimen collected in inappropriate container
  • Quantity not sufficient for analysis
  • Gross contamination
  • Leaking or broken sample container
  • Received out of hold time
  • Received out of temperature

Ordering in LabOnline

  • Profile: EIP Study, Microbiology
  • Testing type: Streptococcus
  • Matrix: Isolate
  • Organism ID: Indicate the Streptococcus group (A, B, or pneumoniae) to be tested.

Contact information