Carbapenemase enzyme - detection

Alternative Names/Synonyms	Detection of carbapenemase enzymes in Gram-negative organisms (Enterobacterales)
Laboratory	Microbiology
Sub-section	Bacteriology
Specimen Type	○ Rectal swab ○ Swab of suspected site of carriage/colonization ○ Environmental swab

Specimen Requirements (Tube Type)

○ Rectal or other swab in Amies transport medium (eSwab)

Collection Requirements

○ Moisten a sterile swab and rotate in the rectum or other site of suspected
resistant Gram-negative bacilli infection or colonization. Place the swab
in Amies transport medium.

Sample Stability

Refer to section Sample Processing / Delivery

Referral Laboratory

In-house

Routine Turnaround Time

○ up to 7 days

Laboratory Contact Information

416-586-4800 extension 4465

Approval Required

Sample Processing / Delivery

○ Label specimen container. Place specimens in biohazard bag and seal.

○ Transport specimens to the UHN/SH Microbiology Laboratory at room temperature (20-25˚C) ASAP after collection. Store at refrigeration temperature (2-8 ˚C) if a delay of more than 2h is expected.

○ SH/UHN Microbiology Laboratory will refer the isolate to the National Microbiology Laboratory for genotyping ONLY if initial screen suggests the presence of a carbapenemase enzyme that is not detected by in-house PCR