Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae, PCR CPT: 87486
Expected Turnaround Time
Within 4-5 days
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Throat or nasopharyngeal (NP) swab, bronchial washings or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), or NP wash/aspirate.
Volume
One swab (in universal transport media) or 1 mL bronchial washings, BAL, or NP wash/aspirate.
Minimum Volume
One swab (in universal transport media), or 0.2 mL bronchial washings, BAL, or NP wash/aspirate. (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)
Container
Universal transport media (swab) or sterile container (bronchial wash/aspirate, BAL, NP wash/aspirate).
Collection
Invert tube 8 to 10 times immediately after tube is filled at the time of collection.
Storage Instructions
Swab, bronchial wash, or BAL is stable at room temperature, refrigerated, or frozen for seven days.
Patient Information
To screen for and diagnose a chlamydia infection.
For women, yearly screening is recommended if you are sexually active and younger than age 25 or 25 or older and at increased risk for this sexually transmitted disease (STD); when you are pregnant or considering pregnancy. For men, yearly screening is recommended if you are a man who has sex with men. When you have symptoms of this STD, such as pain during urination, vaginal discharge and abdominal pain (for women) or unusual discharge from the penis, pain on urination or painful, swollen testicles (for men). When a newborn has conjunctivitis
For women, a swab or brush of cells or secretion from your vagina; for men or women, the initial portion of your urine stream (first-catch urine sample); sometimes a swab of cells or secretion from a non-genital area that may be infected.
Tell your healthcare provider about any use of antibiotics or, for women, douches or vaginal creams; you may be asked to avoid using these within 24 hours before testing vaginal samples since they may affect test results. Menstruation will not affect results. For a urine sample, you may be instructed to wait one to two hours after you last urinated before collecting the sample. Follow any instructions you are given.