Mayo Test Catalog, (Sorted By Test Name) - Mayo Medical ...

GEN
8108
not reveal any organisms
Interpretation: A positive result indicates presence of Babesia microti DNA and is consistent with
active or recent infection. While positive results are highly specific indicators of disease, they should be
correlated with blood smear microscopy, serological results and clinical findings. A negative result
indicates absence of detectable DNA from Babesia microti in the specimen, but does not always rule out
ongoing babesiosis in a seropositive person, since the parasitemia may be present at a low level or may
be sporadic. Other tests to consider in the evaluation of a patient presenting with a flu-like illness
following tick exposure include serologic tests for Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), babesiosis and
ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis. For patients who are past the acute stage of infection, serologic tests for these
organisms should be ordered prior to PCR testing.
Reference Values:
Negative
Clinical References: 1. Anderson JF, Mintz ED, Gadbaw JJ, et al: Babesia microti, human
babesiosis and Borrelia burgdorferi in Connecticut. J Clin Microbiol 1991 Dec;29(12):2779-2783 2.
Homer MJ, Aguilar-Delfin I, Telford SR, et al: Babesiosis. Clin Microbiol Rev 2000
July;13(3):451-469 3. Thompson C, Spielman A, Krause PJ: Coinfecting deer-associated zoonoses:
Lyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis. Clin Infect Dis 2001 Sept 1;33(5):676-685 4. Garcia LS:
Diagnostic medical parasitology. 5th edition, Edited by LS Garcia, Washington, DC, ASM Press, 2007
5. Herwaldt BL, de Bruyn G, Pieniazek NJ, et al: Babesia divergens-like infection, Washington State.
Emerg Infect Dis 2004;10(4):622-629 6. Persing DH, Herwaldt BL, Glaser C, et al: Infection with a
Babesia-like organism in northern California. N Engl J Med 1995;332(5):298-303 7. Quick RE,
Herwaldt BL, Thomford JW, et al: Babesiosis in Washington State: a new species of Babesia? Ann
Intern Med 1993;119(4):284-290 8. Herwaldt B, Persing DH, Precigout EA, et al: A fatal case of
babesiosis in Missouri: identification of another piroplasm that infects humans. Ann Intern Med
1996;124(7):643-650
Bacterial Culture, Aerobic
Clinical Information: Sterile Body Fluids and Normally Sterile Tissues In response to infection,
fluid may accumulate in any body cavity. Wound, Abscess, Exudates Skin and soft tissue infections can
occur as a result of a break in the skin surface, or they can occur as complications of surgery, trauma,
human, animal, or insect bites or diseases that interrupt a mucosal or skin surface. Specimen collection
is of utmost importance for these specimen types. For most open lesions and abscesses, remove the
superficial flora by decontaminating the skin before collecting a specimen from the advancing margin or
base. A closed abscess is the specimen site of choice. Aspirate the abscess contents with a syringe. The
specific anatomic site is required to establish possible contaminating flora in the area of specimen
collection for appropriate reporting of culture results. For this reason, specimens should be labeled as to
the specific anatomic source and to distinguish between "surface" and "deep/surgical" specimens. Do
not label only as "wound."
Useful For: Identifying the bacteria responsible for infections of sterile body fluids, tissues, or
wounds
Interpretation: Any microorganism found where no resident flora is present is considered
significant and is reported. For specimens contaminated with the usual bacterial flora, bacteria that are
potentially pathogenic are identified.
Reference Values:
No growth or usual flora
Identification of probable pathogens
Clinical References: Forbes BA, Sahm DF, Weissfeld AS: In Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic
Microbiology. 11th Edtion. Mosby, St. Louis, MO, 2002, pp 907-926, 972-994
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