Botulinum Toxin (Sendout)

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General Information

Lab Name
Lab Code
509
Description

Ordering Requirements:

  • Pre-approval by WA DOH or LHJ is required. Providers must contact the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) at 206-296-4774. Alternatively, page the Laboratory Medicine Resident (LMR) or Microbiology Fellow on-call for assistance.
  • Providers must submit a completed Washington State Public Health Lab Bioterrorism Requisition.

Alternate Contact Numbers:

  • Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE): (206) 418-5500
  • WPHL Bioterrorism Lab: (206) 418-5562
Forms & Requisitions
Synonyms
Botulism, Clostridium botulinum

Interpretation

Method

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), Mouse bioassay, ELISA, standard reference procedures for biochemical identification

Guidelines

Ordering & Collection

Specimen Type
Stool, Food, Serum, Tissue, Swab, Gastric Aspirate
Collection

After consultation with the Washington State DOH Epidemiologist, submit one or more of the sample types listed below. Ensure that samples are clearly marked with the specimen source.

Adult:

  • Stool: Collect 10-50g (ping-pong ball sized) stool in sterile, leak-proof container.
  • Blood: Collect 30 mL blood in RED TOP or GOLD SST.
  • Tissue, Exudate, or Wound: Collect swab in sterile container with anaerobic transport medium.
  • Enema, Vomitus, or Gastric Contents: Collect with 10-20 mL non-bacteriostatic water into a sterile unbreakable container.
  • Food Sample: coordinate with CDE for collection and transport.

Infant:

  • Stool: Collect 10-50g (ping-pong ball sized) stool in sterile, leak-proof container.
  • Enema: Collect with 10-20 mL non-bacteriostatic water into a sterile unbreakable container.

Washington State Public Health Lab Specimen Collection and Submission Instructions: Clostridium botulinum toxin.

Forms & Requisitions
Handling Instructions

Expedite transport of samples to the laboratory.

Quantity
requested: Blood: 10 mL serum (refer to Collection section for other specimen types)
minimum: Blood: 10 mL serum (refer to Collection section for other specimen types)

Processing

Processing
  • Serum, Stool, Enema, Gastrointestinal: Refrigerate samples. Transport with an ice pack.
  • Tissue, Exudate, Wound Swabs: Maintain and transport at room temperature.

Login: SPMSND-;REFRIG

  • MSNDTO: WPHL
  • MSPTYP: (As specified on request, ex: STL, SERUM, GASTRC, etc.)
  • MTSTRQ: ;Clostridium botulinum Toxin

If multiple specimen types are submitted, ensure that each specimen is properly labeled with the source. Expedite transport of samples to the state lab.

Performance

LIS Dept Code
Performing Location(s)
Sendout Washington State Public Health Laboratory
206-418-5400

1610 NE 150th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155
Frequency
Daily on regular business days. STAT testing is available 24/7 for critical situations.
Available STAT?
No

Billing & Coding

CPT codes
LOINC