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HelpTest Code LAB2501 MRSA PCR Surveillance Only
Infectious
Clinical System Name
MRSA PCR Surveillance Only
Synonyms
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MRSA Screen
Sample Requirements
Specimen: Samples from various body sites are appropriate for MRSA PCR including: axilla, nose, NP, perineum, trach, and throat. Generally 3 separate swabs from 3 different sites are submitted for screening. Label one swab with an Epic specimen label and the remaining swabs with patient labels. Each swab should be clearly labeled with the site of collection. Samples should be collected using a BD ESwab and inserted in to the tube of transport media that comes packaged in the E Swab kit.
Tracheal aspirates should be submitted in the sterile container used for collection.
See Children's Policy Resistant Organisms: Management of Patients with MRSA, VRE, CRE, or other Multi-Drug-Resistant Gram Negative Bacilli on CHILD for additional information about MRSA sample collection.
Note: samples collected on flocked swabs in UTM media (from the viral respiratory kits) are not appropriate for MRSA PCR and will be rejected.
Container: Sterile Container or BD ESwab
Preferred Vol: N/A
Minimum Vol: N/A
Processing Instructions
CPA: Send sample to Microbiology for processing.
Off-site collection: BD ESwabs should be kept at room temperature until and during transport to SCH Micro. Tracheal Aspirates should be refrigerated.
Stability
| Tracheal Aspirate | |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Time |
| Room temp | 2 hours |
| Refrigerated | 24 hours |
| Frozen | N |
| BD ESwab | |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Time |
| Room temp | 24 hours |
| Refrigerated | OK up to 48 hours |
| Frozen | N |
Availability
| Procedure | Performed | Turn Around Time (TAT) |
|---|---|---|
|
MRSA Surv PCR |
24/7 |
3 hours |
Performing Laboratory
Seattle Children's Laboratory
Department
Microbiology Laboratory 7-2585
CPT Codes
87640
87641
Description
The MRSA PCR Surveillance Only test is for rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from patients at risk for SA colonization.
Patients admitted to one of the Intensive Care Units are screened for MRSA at time of admit. The MRSA admission screen is included in the ICU admission order set. These orders are generated by a Pathnet rule at time of admission to the ICU. It is not necessary for the provider to order a MRSA Surv PCR for this purpose, because the test is ordered automatically.
Reporting Information
The provider is notified when the MRSA Screen is positive (first positive only).