Yersinia pestis
Lab test instructions for Yersinia pestis
Diseases
Plague
- Disease forms:
- Bubonic
- Pneumonic
- Septicemic
Organisms
Yersinia pestis
Test Method
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Availability
- All clients must consult with the Section of Epidemiology for approval before testing.
- If approved by Epidemiology, Contact ASPHL Biothreat Team before submitting samples.
Specimen type
- Organism isolate
- bronchial wash
- tracheal aspirate
- sputum
- nasopharyngeal swab
- lymph node aspirate
- serum
- lesion exudates
- tissue smears
- blood
- environmental samples
Specimen collection instructions
Refer to ASM Sentinel Level Clinical Microbiology Guidelines and contact ASPHL with questions.
Storage and transport
- Store refrigerated
- Ship with cool packs
- Ambient temperature shipping is acceptable
- Package and label as UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B.
- Ship as quickly as possible.
With approval, ship to: Anchorage Public Health Laboratory, ATNN: Special Pathogens Unit.
Results
Presumptive/ Confirmatory: Y. pestis detected/ not detected
A normal result is not detected.
Turnaround time
3-5 days
