Staph aureus PCR
Test Mnemonic
SAPCR
CPT Codes
- 87640 - QTY (1)
- 87641 - QTY (1)
LOINC ®
72892-3
Aliases
- Methicillin Resistant Staph aureus
- MRSA
- Staphylococcus aureus
Performing Laboratory
Cleveland Clinic Laboratories
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | Nasal | Swab in Amies or Stuart's media without charcoal | Refrigerated | Collect specimen with dual swab: BBL Culture swab in liquid Stuart medium (Lawson#101647; Cardinal #4320109) or Copan swab in liquid Aimes medium (Lawson #156966; Cardinal #4320147). Both swabs are made by Copan. Swabs in gel or other transport medium, dry swabs, and swabs with wooden shaft will be rejected. |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 24 hours --- Acceptable specimens should be kept at room temperature (15-28 C) if it will be processed within 24 hours, otherwise store at 2-8 C. |
| Refrigerated | 5 days (4 days for patients <= 21 years of age) |
| Frozen | Unacceptable. Will be rejected. |
Days Performed
Sun - Sat
Turnaround Time
1 day
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Reverse Transcription/Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT/PCR) |
Reference Range
| MRSA PCR | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Age From | Age To | Type | Range | Range Unit |
| Normal | MRSA Not Detected | ||||
| Staph aureus PCR | |||||
| Sex | Age From | Age To | Type | Range | Range Unit |
| Normal | Staph aureus Not Detected |
Special Info
With patient's head tilted back, insert both dry swabs (leave attached to red cap) approximately 1-2 cm into one nostril. Rotate the swabs against the inside of the nostril for 3 seconds. Apply slight pressure with a finger on the outside of the nose to ensure good contact between the swabs and inside of the nose. Using the same swabs, repeat for the other nostril. Place the swabs into the transport tube (swabs should stay attached to the red cap). Make sure the red cap is tightly on the transport tube.
Clinical Info
This test detects Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from nasal swabs to determine the Staph aureus carrier status of patients prior to surgery. Specimens other than nares require culture (SANSAL). Testing is performed 7 days/week, 24 hrs/day. TAT for this assay in most cases is expected to be 4-6 hours after receipt in Microbiology. The test is intended to aid in the prevention and control of MRSA/SA infections in healthcare settings.
Clinical Limitation
The Staph aureus PCR test is not intended to diagnose, guide or monitor treatment for MRSA/SA infections, or provide results of susceptibility to methicillin. A negative result does not preclude MRSA/SA nasal colonization. Concomitant cultures are necessary to recover organisms for epidemiological typing or for further susceptibility testing.