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Specimen Requirements for Bacillus anthracis
The Clinical Guide to Services is a comprehensive reference guide of testing services, shipping information, and submission requirements for Minnesota’s Infectious Disease Laboratory.
Even though there are ongoing efforts to keep information current, some information may not be up to date due to recent changes in testing procedures and/or regulation. Many of these tests are only available with prior approval from the Minnesota Department of Health.
If you cannot find what you are looking for in the guide, please Contact the Infectious Disease Laboratory.
Back to agent: Bacillus anthracis
|
Type of Infection
|
Specimen type
|
Minimum Volume
|
Collection Comments
|
|
Cutaneous anthrax
|
Vesicle Swab | 2 swabs | Vesicle should be unroofed and 2 sterile, dry swabs should be soaked in the vesicular fluid. |
| Vesicle Aspirate | 1 ml | An aspirate of the fluid is also an appropriate specimen. | |
| Eschar Swab | 2 swabs | Roll swabs beneath the edge of the eschar without removing it. | |
| Fresh/frozen tissue | 1 punch biopsy | For specialty testing, must be pre-approved by MDH | |
| Gastro- intestinal anthrax |
Stool | 5 g | If unable to obtain stool, obtain rectal swab by inserting swab 1 inch beyond anal sphincter. |
| Rectal swab | 1 swab | ||
| Inhalation anthrax | Nasal swab | 1 swab | For epidemiologic purposes only. Useful only within 24 hours of exposure. |
| Sputum | 1 ml | If patient has a productive cough, this is the specimen of choice in the early course of the disease. | |
| Tracheal aspirates, bronchoalveolar wash, etc. | 1 ml | ||
| Meningitis | CSF | 1 ml | Centrifuge ≥1 ml of fluid |
| Blood | EDTA blood | 1 ml | For molecular testing, must be pre-approved by MDH |
| Serum/plasma | 2 ml | To be sent to CDC for testing, must be pre-approved by MDH | |
| Blood culture | 5 ml | 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 stages 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. | |
| Other | Pleural fluid | 1 ml |
Back to List of Tests