Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Testing site      

Alaska State Public Health Laboratory – Anchorage 

Anchorage Lab Request Form 

Diseases 

Diphtheria 

Organisms 

Corynebacterium diphtheriae 

Test Method 

Culture 

Availability

Routine testing   

Specimen type 

• Pure isolate 
• Obtain material from the inflamed areas in the nasopharynx.  If the membranes are present and can be removed, swab from beneath the membrane 
• Throat, wound or nose swab 

Specimen collection instructions 

• BBL BD CultureSwab™ EZ 
• Polyester, rayon or nylon swabs in bacterial transport media such as Amies or Stuart 
• Ship as soon as possible 

Storage and transport  

• Ambient temperature 
• Package, label, and ship as UN3373, Biological Specimen, Category B 

Ship to Alaska State Public Health Laboratory: Anchorage, ATTN: Clinical Microbiology 

Results  

Corynebacterium diphtheriae: Isolated/Not Isolated 

A normal result is not isolated.  

All isolates of C. diphtheriaefrom any anatomic site (respiratory, cutaneous, or other) will be sent to the CDC Diphtheria Laboratory, CDC, for confirmation and toxin testing. 

Turnaround time  

3-5 days 

Toxin testing results are up to 14 days. 

Resources