Vibrio cholera (01 or 0139)
Clinical Specimen Submission Guidance
Submit all specimens to 150 Richmond Street, Suite 100, Providence, RI 02903. Open Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Learn how and where to drop off your lab samples at our Laboratory Central Services webpage.
Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory 401-222-5538
Vibrio cholerae 01 or 0139
Vibrio cholerae (Cholera)
Genus and species identification of bacterial enteric pathogen
Isolate: Pure isolated colonies (<48 hours old) on plated media sealed with parafilm or other appropriate barrier film is preferred. Tubed media is also acceptable
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 Carey 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 (RISHL) test requisition form https://health.ri.gov/forms/LabRequisitionForm.pdf
Enteric Pathogen Isolate
Write "Vibrio cholerae" under Comments/Other Test Requests
Isolate: Transport at ambient temperature 25°-35°C within 48 hours.
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 federal shipping regulations.
Pure isolate must be received
The following rejection criteria will be used to ensure accurate specimen information and specimen condition for testing:
- Specimen received outside acceptable transport range
- Demographics different / Unable to read identifiers on specimen
- Two identifiers required on specimen
- Expired / Incorrect collection kit
- Insufficient quantity
- Urine cup received
- No specimen received
- Specimen leaked in transit
- Test not evaluated in adolescents <14
- Specimen too old
Negative for Vibrio
Providers must report patient information on Vibrio cholerae immediately using the RIDOH reportable disease form.
Up to 7 business days