Specimen Collection
ONLY use
Aptima collection kits
for both swabs and urines. Available from Microbiology LabPLUS.
Other swabs or collection tubes (Amies transport media, VTM, E-swabs) cannot be tested.
Always send a dedicated tube for
Mycoplasma genitalium
testing
.
There is insufficient sample to test for
Mycoplasma genitalium
if testing for other STIs is required.
Females:
-
Vaginal or Endocervical (preferred)
-
Urine specimen
-
Rectal swab
Males:
-
Urine specimen
-
Urethral swab
-
Rectal swab
Hologic Aptima Multitest Swab (orange label/pink swab)
After collection:
-
Insert swab in the Aptima tube
-
Snap off at the black line
-
Recap firmly -- do not touch the top foil.
Store and transport at room temperature.
Note: Specimen will be
rejected
if:
-
Wrong swab is used
-
Foil cap is pierced
-
Swab is folded over
-
More than one swab in tube
-
Leaking sample (swab or urine)
-
Unlabelled specimen
-
Non-Aptima tube received
Hologic Aptima Urine Tube (yellow label)
Used for male and female urine samples, first catch, collected in urine pottle.
After collection:
-
Transfer urine (using pipette in kit) to the yellow label tube. The volume
MUST BE
in the fill area (between the black lines)
-
Recap firmly -- do not touch the top foil.
Store and transport at room temperature.
Note: Specimen will be
rejected
if:
-
Foil cap is pierced
-
Leaking sample
-
Unlabelled specimen
Avoiding contamination of specimen/collection tube
The specimen collection tube contains a lysis buffer that releases RNA from the organism. If present, potentially high levels for RNA can be present in the sample. It is therefore particularly important to handle the specimen carefully to prevent contamination.
If leakage occurs, discard and recollect.
Leaking samples arriving in the laboratory will be discarded.
Any leakage must be cleaned up using 3% bleach solution.
See also:
Chlamydia/Gonorrhoea/Trichomonas Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)
Mycoplasma genitalium resistance testing PCR
STI Specimen Collection Guide
Turnaround Time:
1 to 3 days.
Hours of service: Monday to Friday only
Turnaround time excludes weekends and public holidays.
In most circumstances, the results will be available the next working day.
Assay Method
The Aptima
Mycoplasma genitalium
assay is an
in vitro
nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for the quantitative detection of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from
Mycoplasma genitalium
on the fully automated Hologic Panther Fusion system.
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation
The Panther Fusion assay utilises transcription mediated amplification (TMA) technology and detects target rRNA if present.
Mycoplasma genitalium
is a sexually transmitted pathogen which causes urethritis in males, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), acute endometritis and adnexitis in women.
Mycoplasma genitalium
accounts for as much as 15-20% of all cases of nongonococcal urethritis (NGU).
All positive samples from the Panther will be further tested by the in-house PCR and sequencing (DNA) method for
Mycoplasma genitalium
resistance gene mutation detection.
Contact Information
For further information, contact the Microbiology Department via Lablink or the Clinical Microbiologist:
Lablink contact details
Dr Sally Roberts
, Microbiologist:
ext 22705
Cellphone
021 674 140
Dr Sharmini Muttaiyah
, Microbiologist:
ext 22700
Cellphone
021 615 892
Dr Mary de Almeida
, Microbiologist:
ext 22700
Cellphone
021 170 9117
Dr Matthew Blakiston
, Microbiologist: contact via Lablink
Dr Veronica Playle
, Microbiologist: contact via Lablink
Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories
Ensure specimens will not leak in transit, otherwise they will be rejected.
Specimens in Aptima tubes are stable and can be transported at room
temperature. Other specimens should be stored and transported at fridge
temperature.