Ordering Guidance

This test is intended for assessing antimicrobial susceptibility of Nocardia species and other pathogenic aerobic actinomycetes which include the more commonly isolated genera of Rhodococcus, Streptomyces, Gordonia, Dietzia, Tsukamurella, and Williamsia species, as well as the lesser isolated genera which include Actinomadura, Amycolatopsis, Dermatophilus, Kroppenstedtia, Nocardiopsis, Nonomuraea, Pseudonocardia, Saccharomonospora, and Saccharopolyspora species.

Certain genera of aerobic actinomycetes will not be accepted for susceptibility testing. Aerobic actinomycetes genera that will not be tested include the following: Actinoallomurus, Actinocatenispora, Actinoplanes, Aeromicrobium, Croceifilum, Hazenella, Intrasporangium, Kineosphaera, Kitasatospora, Kribella, Kutzneria, Laceyella, Marinactinospora, Microbispora, Micromonospora, Nocardioides (not Nocardia), Phycicoccus, Piscicoccus, Prauserella, Risungbinella, Saccharothrix, Sphaerimonospora, Spirillospora, Streptosporangium, Terracoccus, and Thermoactinomyces.

Additional Testing Requirements

If organism identification is not provided, CTB / Mycobacteria and Nocardia Culture, Varies or CTBID / Culture Referred for Identification, Mycobacterium and Nocardia, Varies must also be ordered and will be charged separately.

Shipping Instructions

1. For shipping information see Infectious Specimen Shipping Guidelines.

2. Place specimen in a large infectious container and label as an etiologic agent/infectious substance.

Necessary Information

1. Specimen source is required.

2. Organism identification is required unless either CTB / Mycobacteria and Nocardia Culture, Varies or CTBID / Culture Referred for Identification, Mycobacterium and Nocardia, Varies is also ordered.

Specimen Required

Specimen Type: Organism in pure culture

Supplies: Infectious Container, Large (T146)

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Middlebrook 7H10 agar slant without antimicrobials

Acceptable: Sabouraud's dextrose agar slant or similar media without antimicrobials (eg, 7H11 agar slant, LJ, MGIT [7H9] broth media)

Specimen Volume: Isolate

Collection Instructions: Organism must be in pure culture, actively growing.