Laboratory Specimen Submission

Overview

The Mycotic Diseases laboratory offers clinical mycology testing of patient specimens submitted by public health departments and international laboratories. Laboratory testing is available for individual patients as well as for fungal disease outbreak investigations.

Testing includes identification of mold and yeast isolates, fungal serological testing, and whole genome sequencing. The lab also offers assistance in selecting specimen and test types and interpretation of results.

Specimen acceptance criteria

All submissions to the Mycotic Diseases Branch Laboratory must

1. Include an approved CDC submission document (List 1).

2. Meet the minimum acceptable criteria for the submission document and the specimen/isolate label (List 2).

If the two criteria above are not met, testing may be delayed, or the submission may be rejected.

List 1. Approved CDC submission documents

• CDC Form 50.34
  • Used to log single submissions.
  • Must be completed electronically.
  • Access the form here and instructions for completing form here.
  • Includes a copy of completed form with shipment.
• Global File Accessioning Template (GFAT)
  • Used to log multiple submissions.
  • Must be sent electronically to your CDC point of contact before your submission arrives.
  • Include a copy of the GFAT inside the shipment.
  • Contact your lab's CDC point of contact for the most updated version of this file.
• CDC Specimen Test Order and Reporting (CSTOR)
  • Used to submit specimen data.
  • Must be completed electronically.
• Specimen data validated prior to submission (i.e., missing information) and can be uploaded directly into LIMS.
  • Can view and download results securely online.
  • Contact mcstor@cdc.gov for more information.

List 2. Minimum acceptable criteria for submission documents and specimen/isolate labels

• Submission document (CDC Form 50.34 or GFAT)
  • At least two unique identifiers (IDs).
    • These IDs can be personally identifiable information (PII) but only if indicated acceptable by your CDC point of contact.
    • If PII is not indicated, do not include medical record numbers or other PII.
      • We suggest instead creating two unique IDs that are linked to, but distinct from patient information.
    • Both IDs on the submission document must match the IDs on the specimen/isolate label.
  • Collection date.
    • This should be the date of specimen collection, not the date of subculture or receipt from another institution.
  • State (if United States) or country (if international) of patient origin.
• Specimen/isolate label
  • At least two unique identifiers (IDs).
    • These IDs can be personally identifiable information (PII) but only if indicated acceptable by your CDC point of contact.
    • If PII is not indicated, do not include medical record numbers or other PII.
      • We suggest instead creating two unique IDs that are linked to, but distinct from patient information.
    • Both IDs on the submission document must match the IDs on the specimen/isolate label.

Specimen shipping

Please note:

• Clearly label outer packaging if submission requires refrigeration.
• CDC does not accept routine shipments on weekends or holidays.

External package labeling:

For serological submissions:

ATTN: Dr. Shawn Lockhart

1600 Clifton Rd.

DASH Unit 37

Attn: MDB Fungal Diseases Laboratory

Atlanta, GA 30329

For all other submissions:

ATTN: Dr. Shawn Lockhart

1600 Clifton Rd.

DASH Unit 40

Attn: MDB Fungal Diseases Laboratory

Atlanta, GA 30329