Antimicrobial-Resistance Confirmation

Brief Description

The Georgia Public Health Laboratory (GPHL) accepts isolates for confirmatory testing of known or suspected carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO), including Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species. CPO isolates submitted by clinical laboratories in Georgia can submit directly to GPHL or through the Georgia Emerging Infections Program (EIP).  

Laboratory Unit

Mycobacteriology

Methodology

• MALDI-TOF
• Modified Carbapenemase Inactivation Method(mCIM)
• PCR

Specimen Collection

18-24 hour pure culture isolate:

Non-susceptible to imipenem, ertapenem, meropenem or doripenem grown on non-selective media slants or plates (TSA, Blood, Chocolate).

Storage/Transport

Cultures can be maintained at room temperature (15-30°C) during transit. 

• FRM-QA 4 Refrigeration Outfit Guide

Acceptable Specimen Type(s)

Culture isolates

Test Request

• GPHL Apollo Web Portal
• Web Portal Instructions
• For manual orders, download the GPHL Submission Form

Possible Results

• Identification to the genus, species level
• Carbapenemase detection:
  • Positive
  • Negative
  • Indeterminate
  • Isolate not viable
• Molecular detection:
  • Target gene Detected
  • Target gene Not Detected
• ​​​​​​​All PCR results are reported with a disclaimer:
  • The performance characteristics for the Streck ARM-D® multiplex real-time PCR have been validated by the Georgia Public Health Laboratory.  This test has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  The FDA has determined that such clearance or approval is not necessary if performance characteristics are validated at the testing laboratory.

Reference Range

N/A

Unacceptable Conditions

• Missing testing requisition
• Missing minimum of 2 patient identifiers
• Improper labeling
• Improper storage/transport of specimen
• No specimen received
• Wrong specimen type
• No growth on culture media
• Mixed cultures
• Specimen damaged, broken, leaking upon arrival

Interfering Substances

N/A

Result Reported

2-3 business days

Fees

No charge

LOINC/Order Codes

41852-5 (Order Code: 12100)