Isolate Submission: Pulmonary NTM Information for Health Professionals

On this page:
Criteria for submission of isolates
Appropriate specimen types
Specimen submission forms
Shipping to MDH-PHL
Questions

Criteria for submission of isolates

• At this time, MDH is not requesting routine pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolate submission. If apparent clusters or outbreaks of pulmonary NTM infection are occurring, MDH may request specific isolates.

Appropriate specimen types

• Send on any media that supports the growth of NTM.

Specimen submission forms

MDH-PHL requests the following documentation to be included with each pulmonary NTM isolate submission:

• Infectious Disease Laboratory Submission Form (PDF)
  More information can be found on Forms for the Infectious Disease Laboratory
  • Be sure to include the following information:
    • patient information
    • facility information
    • specimen source
    • collection date
    • isolate genus/species
• Susceptibility Testing Report:
  • If available, submit a copy of susceptibility testing results performed in your laboratory.

Shipping to MDH-PHL

• Ship specimens to MDH-PHL by an overnight delivery service or local courier.
  Note: It is the responsibility of the submitting laboratory to determine the appropriate packaging and shipping for patient specimens and culture isolates. See U.S. Department of Transportation Regulations: Hazardous materials shipping for more information.
• Isolates should be shipped at room temperature.
• Ship to:
  Minnesota Department of Health
  Public Health Laboratory
  Attn: Biological Accessioning
  601 Robert St. N
  St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-2531

Laboratory Testing

• MDH performs the following testing on submitted NTM isolates:
  • Isolate identification is confirmed by line probe assay or 16s RNA sequencing.

Questions?

MDH-PHL Special Microbiology Laboratory is available during regular business hours for consultation on NTM testing and result interpretation at 651-201-5073.