Vibrio cholera (01 or 0139)
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
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
Negative for Vibrio
Providers must report patient information on Vibrio cholerae immediately using the RIDOH reportable disease form.
Up to 7 business days
Containers specifically labeled for transport of specimens to the RISHL Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory are available in all Microbiology Laboratories and Laboratory Sendout Departments.