Effective January 2023 Southwest Labs no longer accepts appointments, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For questions about test results or billing, please contact our main lab. 

 505.609.LABS (5227)   4261 Balloon Park Rd, NE

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infectious disease specifications

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Many types and species of microorganisms are causative of infections in humans and the specialized tests that we perform can identify some of these. Our tests utilize real time PCR (RT-PCR) amplification to detect the presence of a microorganism in a specimen by amplifying the genomic material of the organism(s). The microorganism(s) we test for are listed below in “Target Microorganisms”. Amplification and detection is performed using an Applied Biosystems™ QuantStudio™ 7 Flex real time PC system which includes the QuantStudio™ Real-Time PCR Software. Real time PR amplification is performed using TaqMan™ assays from Thermo Fisher Scientific consisting of two PC primers and one fluorescently labeled (FAM dye) probe which hybridizes to the target organism’s genomic DNA. The assays are preloaded onto TaqMan™ Array Cards (TAC).

 

These methodologies allow Southwest Labs to rapidly and simultaneously test for many infectious organisms as well as some of the most common genes known to confer possible resistance to antibiotics. Given this, all of these possible tests return an independent binary result: present or absent. For this reason, it is not possible for Southwest labs to determine which of two (or more) detected bacterial pathogens contain any simultaneously detected antibiotic resistance gene(s) from the same specimen. Therefore, in polymicrobial specimen results of this type, medical providers could assume the antibiotic resistance genes were present in all detected bacterial microorganisms when they are selecting a treatment as a means of reducing the likelihood of antibiotic failure due to antibiotic resistance.

TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS & DISCLAIMER

Our tests can simultaneously detect the possible presence of many infectious organisms as well as some of the most common genes known to confer possible resistance to antibiotics. As a courtesy to medical providers, our tests result software utilizes these data points to generate some clinical treatment information for consideration by the ordering provider. The resources used to compile this information were the Sanford Guide™ the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database™, UpToDate™, and the advice of experienced medical professionals. However, any and all information relating to possible treatment of infectious disease(s) provided by Southwest Labs is done so exclusively as an informational courtesy alone. Any and all decisions to treat our not treat an infection and/or what treatments to use for an infection(s) must be made at the sole direction of the medical provider using clinical judgement and information. Southwest Labs does not make medical diagnoses and does not provide medical treatment. Southwest Labs is not responsible for any treatment decision(s) made by ordering providers.

UTI TARGET MICROORGANISMS
  • Acinetobacter baumannii
  • Actinobaculum schaalii
  • Aerococcus urinae
  • Alloscardovia omnicolens
  • Citrobacter freundii
  • CoagNegStaph pool (Stapylococcus epidermidis, staphylococcus haemolyticus, Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CONS), Staphylococcus saprophyticus) 
  • Citrobacter koseri
  • Corynebacterium riegelii
  • Enterobacter cloacae
  • Enterococcus pool (Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium) 
  • Escherichia coli
  • Klebsiella aerogenes
  • Klebsiella oxytoca
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • Morganella morganii
  • Mycoplasma hominis
  • Pantoea agglomerans
  • Proteus mirabilis
  • Proteus vulgaris
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Serratia marcescens
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus agalactiae
  • ViridansStrep pool (Streptococcus oralis, virdians group Streptococci) 
  • Candida albicans
  • Candida auris
  • Candida glabrata
  • Candida parapsilosis
  • Ureplasma urealyticum
UTI Antibiotic Resistance Genes
  • mecA 
  • ampC, FOX, ACC pool (blaACT, blaFOX, blacACC)
  • DHA, MOX, CMY, LAT pool (blaDHA, blaMOX, blaCMY) 
  • TEM, SHV, VEB pool (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaVEB) 
  • IMP pool (blaIMP) 
  • OXA, GES pool (blaOXA, blaGES) 
  • OXA pool (blaOXA) 
  • PER pool (blaPER) 
  • CTX-M pool (blaCTX-M)
  • CTX-M pool (blaCTX-M)
  • VIM, KPC pool (blaVIM, blaKPC)
  • Van pool (vanA, vanA2, vanB, vanC) 

Got questions? Contact us.

Still can’t find your answers here? Contact our molecular team to get answers faster.

Ana Valdez

Director of Molecular Diagnostics

Evan D. Baldwin, MD

Chief Medical Officer