The Clinical Guide to Services is a comprehensive reference guide of testing services, shipping information and submission requirements. Efforts have been made to be concise and current with all information, but as testing procedures and regulations change, some information may not be current. Many of these tests are only available with prior approval from MDH. It is impossible to address all situations in this guide, so please contact us with any questions.

Specimen Requirements for Francisella tularensis


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Type of Infection
Specimen type
Minimum Volume
Collection Comments
Pulmonary Sputum, throat swab, tracheal aspirates, bronchoalveolar wash, etc. 1 ml  
Nasal swab 1 swab For epidemiologic purposes only. Useful only within 24 hours of exposure.
Ulceroglandular Ulcer scraping, biopsy, or swab (eye) 1 g
1 swab		 Specimen from advancing edge of the lesion not central necrotic area, which is usually secondarily infected.
Glandular Lymph node aspirate, tissue 1ml
1-5g 		 
Septicemia Blood culture Refer to manufacturer's recommendation Collect appropriate blood volume and number of sets per submitting lab's protocol. Collect prior to antibiotic use if possible. Most likely to be positive in later stage of disease.
Blood in sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS) 8 ml Blood collected in SPS may be inoculated into blood culture bottles upon receipt at MDH.
Meningitis CSF 1 ml Centrifuge >1 ml of fluid
Misc/Other Whole blood 1 ml Collect in EDTA, purple top tube. For molecular testing, must be pre-approved by MDH.
Serum/plasma 2 ml Acute-phase specimen should be collected ASAP after onset of disease.
Convalescent-phase specimen should be collected >14 days after the acute specimen.
Sent to CDC for testing, must be pre-approved by MDH.
Postmortem Lymph, lung, liver, spleen tissue, bone marrow, CSF 1-5g
1 ml		  

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