See Collection Instructions
San Diego Public Health Lab
Other Reference Test
Monday-Friday
4-15 Days
16-30 mL Pre-antitoxin Blood
Red Top (No Additive)
Collect 16-30 mL blood from a free flowing site. Hemolyzed or low volume serum will not be tested. Label with patient's name, pre-antitoxin serum, date and time of collection. When recommended by the public health epidemiologist, 25 gm feces unpreserved or 25 mL of a sterile water enema and/or 25 mL gastric aspirate, if taken within 72 hours of symptom onset. Physician MUST complete the Adult Botulism requisition and submit with specimen to lab.
Refrigerate-Only
Hemolysis; Low volume
15 mL Serum
8 mL Serum
Centrifuge and separate serum into a transfer tube and refrigerate specimen. Samples should be maintained at 4-10 C during transit. Do not pack with dry ice or allow cold packs to directly contact the samples. When recommended by the public health epidemiologist, 25 gm feces unpreserved or 25 mL of a sterile water enema and/or 25 mL gastric aspirate, if taken within 72 hours of symptom onset. Submit the completed Adult Botulism requisition with specimen(s) refrigerated. Send with Dynamex courier to San Diego County Public Health.
NOTE: The patient's physician MUST have discussed the case and received approval from the local health department and the State's Communicable Disease Control Duty Officer of the Day PRIOR to submission of specimens. SDPH Lab contact numbers (619) 692-8500; Fax (619) 692-8558.
01-13-17
JZ