Whipple’s disease – detection
| Molecular detection of Tropheryma whipplei | |
| Microbiology | |
| Virology | |
| ○ Tissue (cardiac, lymph nodes, brain, duodenal, gastric, colonic biopsy) ○ EDTA blood ○ CSF |
Other Information
○ Serum, plasma, saliva, throat, urine, and stool are unacceptable specimens
○ A negative result does not rule out T. whipplei infection, only rules out a potential infection of the relative area of specimen origin
○ A negative result does not rule out T. whipplei infection, only rules out a potential infection of the relative area of specimen origin
○ Whole blood: EDTA vacutainer tube (lavender top)
○ CSF/tissues: Clean, sterile container, with a small amount of saline for tissues
○ CSF/tissues: Clean, sterile container, with a small amount of saline for tissues
Whole blood:
○ Decontaminate skin with 70% alcohol followed by iodine or chlorhexidine, collect at least 5 mL of blood.
CSF:
○ Decontaminate skin, collect at least 0.5 mL of CSF via lumbar puncture in sterile container
Tissue:
○ Collect 5-10 mm3 tissue aseptically using surgical technique. Place in a clean, sterile container with a small amount of sterile saline.
○ Decontaminate skin with 70% alcohol followed by iodine or chlorhexidine, collect at least 5 mL of blood.
CSF:
○ Decontaminate skin, collect at least 0.5 mL of CSF via lumbar puncture in sterile container
Tissue:
○ Collect 5-10 mm3 tissue aseptically using surgical technique. Place in a clean, sterile container with a small amount of sterile saline.
Refer to section Sample Processing / Delivery
PHOL
○ Up to 7 days from receipt at PHO laboratory
416-586-4800 extension 4432
NO
○ Label specimen container. Place specimens in biohazard bag and seal.
○ Transport specimens to the UHN/SH Microbiology Laboratory at refrigeration temperature (2-8˚C).
○ The specimen will be referred to the Public Health Ontario Laboratory for testing. PHOL will refer the specimens to the Public Health Agency of Canada in Winnipeg.
○ Transport specimens to the UHN/SH Microbiology Laboratory at refrigeration temperature (2-8˚C).
○ The specimen will be referred to the Public Health Ontario Laboratory for testing. PHOL will refer the specimens to the Public Health Agency of Canada in Winnipeg.