Salmonella typhi (Typhoid Fever)
Clinical Specimen Submission Guidance
Submit all specimens to 50 Orms St, Providence RI 02904. Open Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory 401-222-5538
Salmonella typhi, Group D
Typhoid Fever
Genus and species identification of pathogenic isolate
Pure isolated colonies (<48 hours old) on appropriate plated media sealed with parafilm or other appropriate barrier film is preferred. Appropriate tubed media is acceptable but may result in reporting delay.
Enteric broth such as GN Broth (incubated for at least 24 hours at 35°- 37°C). Store broths refrigerated at 2°- 8°C prior to shipment.
Stool: PRIOR APPROVAL is required for all primary stool specimens. Contact the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at (401) 222-5538. Minimum volume 2 mL collected in Cary Blair Transport Media or other suitable transport media. Store refrigerated at 2° - 8°C.
CLIA regulations require specimens be labeled with at least two patient identifiers. Examples of identifiers are first and last name, date of birth, chart/medical record number. The specimen container must be labeled to match the test requisition or the electronic order.
Rhode Island State Health Laboratories test requisition form https://health.ri.gov/forms/LabRequisitionForm.pdf
Enteric Pathogen Isolate
Write "Salmonella typhi" under Comments/Other Test Requests
Isolate: Transport at ambient temperature 25°-35°C within 48 hours of subculture.
Refrigerated: Transport and deliver to the laboratory within 24 hours of collection at 2-8°C in a cooler able to maintain specimen temperature. A plug-in electric cooler is recommended, however, a cooler packed with excess frozen gel packs is acceptable as long as the transport temperature is maintained at 2-8°C.
Specimens must be packaged & transported in accordance with current federal shipping regulations.
Pure isolate or positive broth must be received
Negative for Salmonella typhi
Providers must report patient information on Typhoid Fever (Group D) immediately using the RIDOH reportable disease form.
Up to 7 business days
Containers specifically labeled for transport of specimens to the RISHL Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory are available in all Microbiology Laboratories and Laboratory Sendout Departments