Specimen Collection
Suitable specimens
Lower respiratory tract specimens:
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Sputum,
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Tracheal aspirate or
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Bronchial washings/BAL are preferred.
However, nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from children will be tested if lower respiratory tract samples are not available.
Please do not send nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS).
Turnaround Time: Within 3 days
Test is performed on weekdays only.
Please contact the Clinical Microbiologist if an urgent test is required out of hours.
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation
The Atypical Pneumonia PCR panel covers the following organisms:
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Legionella
species
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Legionella pneumophila
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae
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Chlamydophila pneumoniae
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Pneumocystis jiroveci
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Bordetella pertussis.
Contact Information
Urgent enquiries
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In normal working hours (08:00-16:00 Mon-Fri) contact Clinical Virology via LabLINK (internal extension 22000, external number 09 307 8995).
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Outside of normal working hours (evenings and weekends) contact the On Call Clinical Microbiologist via Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Auckland main switchboard (09 367 0000).
Non-urgent enquiries