Nocardia – Aerobic Actinomycetes

Consistent with O. Reg. 671/92 of the French Language Services Act, laboratory testing information on this page is only available in English because it is scientific or technical in nature and is for use only by qualified health care providers and not by members of the public.

*Uncontrolled print copy. Valid only on day of print: 01 May 2024.

Specimen Collection and Handling

Specimen Requirements

Test Requested	Required Requisition(s)	Specimen Type	Minimum Volume	Collection Kit
Lab to complete	General Test Requisition	Bronchial washings	Sufficient sample must be received for both culture and microscopy to be performed. If insufficient sample is received, culture only will be done.	Sterile container
Lab to complete	General Test Requisition	Sputum	Sufficient sample must be received for both culture and microscopy to be performed. If insufficient sample is received, culture only will be done.	Sterile container
Lab to complete	General Test Requisition	Bronchial alveolar lavage	Sufficient sample must be received for both culture and microscopy to be performed. If insufficient sample is received, culture only will be done.	Sterile container
Lab to complete	General Test Requisition	Abscesses	Sufficient sample must be received for both culture and microscopy to be performed. If insufficient sample is received, culture only will be done.	Sterile container
Lab to complete	General Test Requisition	Tissue	Sufficient sample must be received for both culture and microscopy to be performed. If insufficient sample is received, culture only will be done.	Sterile container

Submission and Collection Notes

Note: Swabs are not accepted for culture.

Storage and Transport

Place specimen in a biohazard bag and seal.

Store bronchial washings, sputum, BAL and abscess at 4°C.

Store tissue specimens at room temperature.

Specimens should be shipped to the lab ASAP where possible.

Requisitions and Kit Ordering

Test Frequency and Turnaround Time (TAT)

The Nocardia specimen testing is done daily Monday to Friday.

Turnaround Time for microscopy: 1 day.

Turnaround Time for culture: within 4 weeks.

Turnaround Time for sensitivity: within 7 working days for positive culture submitted as pure growth.

Test Methods

Microscopy and culture for aerobic actinomycetes.

Microscopy: Gram stain and modified Acid Fast stains

Identification of aerobic actinomycetes from culture is performed using conventional methods including microscopic morphology, MALDI-TOF and molecular sequencing MLSA if needed.

Reporting

Results are reported to the ordering physician or health care provider as indicated on the requisition.

Additional Information

Any aerobic Actinomycetes isolated from submitted specimens is forwarded to Toronto Public Health laboratory for identification. Please indicate on the requisition if the patient is immunocompromised or High Risk.

Susceptibility testing for Nocardia species (and aerobic actinomycetes) will be performed by broth microdilution assay on request.

Susceptibility results will be reported as MICs with or without interpretation as per CLSI guidelines. For guidance in interpretation of results, please contact the microbiologist.

*Uncontrolled print copy. Valid only on day of print: 01 May 2024.

Contact Laboratory Customer Service

Laboratory Services

customerservicecentre@oahpp.ca

Updated 20 July 2020