Histoplasma culture

TEST NAME Histoplasma culture
DISEASE/DISORDER Histoplasmosis
ALTERNATE NAME(S) Cave Disease, Darling's Disease, Ohio Valley Disease, Spelunker's Lung
METHODOLOGY Morphology, D2 LSU sangar sequencing
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS None
ORDERING INFORMATION TDH DLS Requisition:  PH-4182 Clinical Submission Requisition Form

Specimen Requirements


Patient Preparation
  • Collection of fluid from respiratory tract or a tissue biopsy.
Specimen Collection
  • Acceptable Specimen Sources/Type(s) for Submission:

-  Culture isolate on Sabouraud's agar or other appropriate media                        (i.e. potato dextrose agar, potato flake agar, inhibitory mold agar, brain            heart infusion, brain heart infusion with sheeps blood, brain heart                    infusion with chloramphenicol, brain heart Infusion with gentamicin,                Sabouraud brain heart infusion with chloramphenicol and gentamicin,            SDA Emmons, SDA Emmons with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol) in      screw capped tube.

-  Only pure cultures will be accepted.

-  Isolate should be submitted on primary media or subculture after                     growth is visible.

Specimen Labeling
  • Specimen must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers and match accompanying PH-4182 Clinical Submission Requisition.
Specimen Processing
  • None
Specimen Storage and Preservation
  • Store isolate at 17 - 25°C prior to shipping.
Specimen Transportation
  • Ship specimen at 17 - 25°C.
  • All infectious substance shipments must conform to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR 49 C.F.R. Parts 171-180). 
Specimen Acceptability and Rejection
  • Unsatisfactory specimens include, but may  not be limited to:

-  The specimen was broken or leaked in transit

-  No specimen was in the container submitted

-  Raw specimens recieved over three (3) days in transit post collection.

-  Specimens submitted in a non-regulation container

-  Specimens overgrown with organisms that cannot be separated from the     submitted isolate

-  Unacceptable specimen types (i.e. Foley or urinary catheter                                  tips, Lochia, Vomitus, Colostomy discharge materials, Stool                                  specimens, Gastric contents or gastric washings)

Testing Location
  • Nashville

This Page Last Updated: September 15, 2023 at 11:54 AM