Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough (“violent cough”) has been associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in infants. Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease. The main symptoms include malaise, fever followed by long bursts of coughing and choking leaving the infected person gasping for breath with a characteristic whoop sound.
Laboratory confirmation of clinically suspected cases can be made by culture and isolation of the causative organisms B. pertussis and B. parapertussis, detection of its DNA or serological tests.
Specimen container paediatric:
Pernasal Swab.
Specimen container adult:
Pernasal Swab.
Minimum volume paediatric:
N/A
Minimum volume adult:
N/A
Special requirements:
Per-nasal swabs are available from microbiology or RVI Admission Suite. Send swabs to laboratory as quickly as possible. If delays likely, refrigerate 2-8 deg C
Sample stability:
Stable for up to 24 hrs.
Transport requirements:
Standard
Add on test:
N/A
Quality assurance:
UK National External Quality Assurance Scheme (UKNEQAS).
Interpretation:
Interpretative comments are added to reports where applicable.
Reference ranges:
N/A
Factors affecting result:
If delays likely, refrigerate at 2-8 deg C.
Referenced documents:
Standards of Microbiology Investigations (SMI B 6)
Other Info:
N/A