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Molecular Detection of Yersinia pestis by real-time PCR

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Accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to Laboratory no. 594 (ISO/IEC 17025)

Requisition Forms

Reference Details

Description:

Molecular detection by real-time PCR of Yersinia pestis.

Test Category:
Molecular Detection
Pathogen:
Yersinia pestis
Illnesses and Diseases:
  • Plague
Specimen:

Pure bacterial culture, whole blood – minimum 0.5 mL, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) – minimum 0.5 mL, biopsy tissue, powder.

Collection Method:

Pure bacterial culture – plate or swab; Whole blood – EDTA tube; Tissue or CSF – submit in a sterile collection tube; powder – submit in a sterile 2 mL o-ring microcentrifuge tube.

Specimen Processing, Storage and Shipping:

Store bacterial cultures refrigerated until shipped for testing. Store blood samples refrigerated until shipped for testing.  Store tissue samples and CSF frozen until shipped for testing. 

Transportation of Dangerous Goods:

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 either Part 2 Appendix 3 of the TDG Regulations or section 3.6.2 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations as applicable.

 

Patient Criteria:

Suspected Yersinia pestis infection.

Accompanying Documentation:

Completed Bioforensics Assay Development and Diagnostics requisition including sender name, address and telephone number. Patient name or identifier (referring lab #), date of birth, suspected exposure, test(s) requested, clinical history. Type of specimen and date collected. If possible, include the antibiotics administered and travel history.

Comments:

Please notify the laboratory prior to submission of specimen.

Methods and Interpretation of Results:

Real-time PCR is performed using in-house differentiating molecular assays for 3 targets specific to Yersinia pestis.

Confirmatory tests of a sample positive for Yersinia pestis by real-time PCR result may include bacteriophage lysis, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) bacterial identification.

MALDI-TOF MS will be performed on all samples negative for Yersinia pestis by real-time PCR, as long as the sample provides bacterial growth by culture.

 

Turnaround Time:

4 calendar days for a preliminary result; 14 calendar days for a final result; 28 calendar days for any non-standard specimen type or specialized testing requests.

Contact:
Phone #: (204) 784-5928 or 1-877-212-6108
Fax: (204) 789-5009
References:
  1. Tracz, DM et al. 2012.  Effect of gamma radiation on the identification of bacterial pathogens by MALDI-TOF MS. J. Microbiol. Methods 92, 132-134.
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