Test ID: MTBRP
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, Molecular Detection, PCR
Specimen Type 
Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
The high sensitivity of amplification by PCR requires the specimen to be processed in an environment in which contamination of the specimen by Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA is not likely.
Forms: If not ordering electronically, submit a Microbiology Request Form (Supply T244) with the specimen.
Preferred Specimens: Body fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, respiratory (eg, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, bronchial washing, sputum), stool, tissue (fresh or paraffin) or bone, urine
Acceptable Specimens: If no fresh specimen is available, some digested respiratory specimens treated with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC)/NaOH are acceptable (eg, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, bronchial washing, gastric washing, respiratory fluid, sputum, or tracheal secretion)
Unacceptable Specimens: Blood, bone marrow, specimen in anaerobe vial or viral transport medium (including but not limited to M4, M5, BD viral transport media, thioglycolate broth), swab, tissue in formalin fluid, specimen >7 days old (with the exception of paraffin tissue)
Specimen must arrive within 7 days of collection; specimen >7 days will be rejected.
Specimen source is required.
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Preferred:
Specimen Type: Body fluid
Sources: Body fluid or cerebrospinal fluid
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days/Ambient 7 days/Frozen 7 days
Additional Information: Only fresh, non-NALC/NaOH-digested body fluid is acceptable.
Specimen Type: Gastric Washing
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 10 mL
Collection Instructions: Neutralize specimen within 4 hours of collection with 100 mg of sodium carbonate per 5-10 mL of gastric washing.
Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days/Ambient 7 days/Frozen 7 days
Specimen Type: Respiratory
Sources: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, bronchial washing, or sputum
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days/Ambient 7 days/Frozen 7 days
Specimen Type: Stool
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 5-10 g
Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days/Ambient 7 days/Frozen 7 days
Additional Information: Only fresh, non-NALC/NaOH-digested stool is acceptable.
Specimen Type: Tissue
Sources: Fresh, paraffin, or bone
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Sterile container
Acceptable: Biopsy specimen of tissue fixed with formalin in a paraffin block
Specimen Volume: 5-10 mm
Collection Instructions: Block must be sent for sectioning.
Specimen Stability Information:
Fresh tissue: Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days/Ambient 7 days/Frozen 7 days
Fixed tissue (paraffin): Ambient
Additional Information: Only fresh, non-NALC/NaOH-digested tissue is acceptable.
Specimen Type: Urine
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 2 mL
Collection Instructions: Collect a random urine specimen.
Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days/Ambient 7 days/Frozen 7 days
Additional Information: Only fresh, non-NALC/NaOH-digested urine is acceptable.
Acceptable:
NALC/NaOH-digested specimen must arrive within 7 days of digestion.
Specimen Type: NALC/NaOH-digested respiratory specimens
Sources: Lavage fluid, bronchial washing, gastric washing, respiratory fluid, sputum, or tracheal secretion
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 2 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Submit digested specimen treated with NALC/NaOH.
2. Clearly indicate on container and order form that specimen is a digested specimen.
Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days/Ambient 7 days/Frozen 7 days
Additional Information: If a single specimen is being shared between mycobacteria culture, acid-fast smear, and/or Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR, a minimum volume of 1.5 mL for body fluid, 3 mL for respiratory specimen, or a pea-sized piece of tissue should be obtained. Specimen volumes less than indicated may decrease sensitivity of testing. If insufficient volume is submitted, test or tests will be canceled.
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | NA |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | Blood, bone marrow, specimen in anaerobe vial or viral transport medium (including but not limited to M4, M5, BD viral transport media, thioglycolate broth), swab, tissue in formalin fluid, specimen >7 days old (with the exception of paraffin tissue) |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Varies | Varies | |
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