Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Gram-positive organisms; VRE, MRSA, C. difficile.

Pure culture.

Isolate provided on appropriate culture medium for Gram-positive organisms.

Send cultures as growth on culture medium or in transport medium. Culture vessel should be leak-proof or sealed appropriately.

Shipping of specimens shall be done by a TDG certified individual in accordance with TDG regulations. For additional information regarding classification of specimens for the purposes of shipping, consult eitherPart 2 Appendix 3 of the TDG Regulations or section 3.6.2 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations as applicable.

N/A

Completed Antimicrobial Resistance and Nosocomial Infections Requisition.

Gram-positive organisms may include but are not limited to: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus sp. and C. difficile.  Please consult with lab prior to submitting rarely tested organisms or those that require specialized growth conditions.

Susceptibility testing is performed at the discretion of the lab by Etest or broth microdilution. Results are interpreted according to breakpoints published by CLSI, FDA, or EUCAST.

8 calendar days.

1. CLSI. Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, 36th informational supplement, M100 ED36.. 2026. Wayne, PA: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.
2. The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). Breakpoint tables for interpretation of MICs and zone diameters. Version 16, 2026. http//www.eucast.org