Legionella Testing

N/A

Specimen type: Pure viable culture on appropriate agar medium (BCYE-Cysteine,) slant or appropriate commercial transport.
One isolate per patient.

Appropriate agar medium slant in tube (BCYE/Cysteine medium) with screw-cap tightened or other similarly approved commercial transport medium.
Shipping boxes/containers with appropriate shipping labels, commercially available.

1. Label the culture tube with the patient's name, date of birth, and date of organism isolation.
2. A minimum of two unique patient identifiers, (i.e., first/last name) DOB, MRN) must be indicated on the isolate tube. Unique identifiers must match what is entered on the submission form/LimsNet if available.
3. Check the expiration date on the tube to ensure the product is acceptable and will continue to be acceptable once received at the IDOH laboratory.
4. Complete a Reference Bacteriology Culture Identification Request Form for each specimen with the following information:
   1. Patient name, address, age, gender, onset, physician name, and diagnosis.
   2. Culture isolation source, date isolated, date submitted, organism suspected.
   3. Submitting facility information-clinic name, address, phone number, fax number, contact name, and email address (if available).
   4. Relevant comments which may include patient history or travel history.

Ship to:
Indiana Department of Health Laboratories
Suite B, Reference Microbiology
550 West 16th Street
Indianapolis, IN. 46202

1. Package according to Category B UN3373 guidelines.
2. Completed submission/request form may then be wrapped around the sealed inner container and  together placed securely into the outer shipping container.
3. Do not send culture isolates on petri plates if submitting by mail.
4. Transport Temperature: Ambient. Tissue specimens should be transported with cold packs.
5. IDOH recommends that the collected specimens for Diphtheria testing are received in 24 hours or less by using an overnight delivery or courier service.

Reporting Method: Fax.
TAT: Culture 3-10 business days.
Test Referral: Legionella isolates will be sent to the CDC for confirmation and/or additional testing.