Pathology

Test & Collection Guide

PLEASE NOTE: Recent changes have been made to this Test

Recent changes for STI - Sexually Transmitted Infection Microscopy & Culture

Recent changes for STI - Sexually Transmitted Infection Microscopy & Culture
Date	Field	Changed From	Changed To
10th January 2025	Collection & Request Instructions	Gel, charcoal, and VTM (COVID) swabs are NOT suitable for STI PCR. You MUST use the white top STI PCR swab. Use the orange charcoal swab for urethral swabs for Gonorrhoea culture. A gel swab can be used for other genital sites (eg HVS). Microbiology Collection Guide https://pathology.easternhealth.org.au/handbook/downloads/microbiology/Microbiology_Specimen_Collection_Guide.doc Note: swabs are required for culture and PCR; urine samples are suitable for PCR testing only.	Gel, charcoal, and VTM (COVID) swabs are NOT suitable for STI PCR. You MUST use the white top STI PCR swab. Use the orange charcoal swab for urethral swabs for Gonorrhoea culture. A gel swab can be used for other genital sites (eg HVS). Microbiology Collection Guide https://pathology.easternhealth.org.au/handbook/downloads/microbiology/WORK-MI-89%20Microbiology%20Swab%20Specimen%20Collection.docx Note: swabs are required for culture and PCR; urine samples are suitable for PCR testing only.
10th January 2025	Assay name	Sexually Transmitted Infection Microscopy & Culture	STI - Sexually Transmitted Infection Microscopy & Culture
10th January 2025	Collection & Request Instructions	Microbiology Collection Guide https://pathology.easternhealth.org.au/handbook/downloads/microbiology/Microbiology_Specimen_Collection_Guide.doc Note: swabs are required for culture and PCR; urine samples are suitable for PCR testing only.	Gel, charcoal, and VTM (COVID) swabs are NOT suitable for STI PCR. You MUST use the white top STI PCR swab. Use the orange charcoal swab for urethral swabs for Gonorrhoea culture. A gel swab can be used for other genital sites (eg HVS). Microbiology Collection Guide https://pathology.easternhealth.org.au/handbook/downloads/microbiology/Microbiology_Specimen_Collection_Guide.doc Note: swabs are required for culture and PCR; urine samples are suitable for PCR testing only.

STI - Sexually Transmitted Infection Microscopy & Culture

Ordering information:

Do NOT use blue top gel swabs for PCR.

Note: if Mycoplasma genitalium PCR is also required an ADDITIONAL separate dry swab must be collected; if Herpes PCR is also required an ADDITIONAL seperate dry swab must also be collected.

Alternate names:

Genital kit, Genital Swab Microscopy & Culture, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, PID, STD culture, STI, Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma culture

Laboratory:

Microbiology

Test Code:

GMC

Specimen types:

Genital swab
First stream urine

Container types:

Genital swab kit + sterile pot

Collection Instructions:

Gel, charcoal, and VTM (COVID) swabs are NOT suitable for STI PCR. You MUST use the white top STI PCR swab.

Use the orange charcoal swab for urethral swabs for Gonorrhoea culture. A gel swab can be used for other genital sites (eg HVS).

Microbiology Collection Guide

Note: swabs are required for culture and PCR; urine samples are suitable for PCR testing only.

STI self collection guide

Frequency:

Daily

Result Turnaround Time:

2-3 days

Test & Collection Guide

PLEASE NOTE: Recent changes have been made to this Test

Recent changes for STI - Sexually Transmitted Infection Microscopy & Culture

Date

Field

Changed From

Changed To

Collection & Request Instructions

Assay name