Francisella tularensis culture

F. tularensis gram stain 

CAP Survey: LPX-B

To be shipped September 2, 2025.

It is time for the CAP LPX-B Survey to be sent to participating Sentinel Laboratories. Listed below are some important bullet points to assist you in ruling out possible Select Agents as well as sending in ONE isolate to the MTPHL as part of the Packaging and Shipping (P&S) Exercise component of the Preparedness grant. This would be an isolate that you can NOT rule out as a Select Agent.

• Refer to LRN Sentinel Level Clinical Laboratory Protocols (asm.org) for Sentinel Laboratory guidelines.
• These organisms are intended to have rule-out identifications performed with limited biochemicals as described in the LRN Protocols.
• The use of automated systems is highly discouraged due to the potential risk of lab exposure by aerosolization and erroneous identification.
• CAP requires the following dates to be noted on the answer sheet:
  • The date the specimen was set up (initial plating).
  • The date that the guideline testing was initiated.
  • The date guideline testing was completed.
  • The date you called the MTPHL concerning the discovery of an organism that could NOT be ruled out as a Select Agent. CAP will be monitoring this time interval.
• The test specimens must be subbed TWICE to plate media prior to initiating guideline testing in order to ensure a metabolically robust organism ready for testing.
• CALL BEFORE SENDING CULTURES TO THE STATE! Call Microbiology (406)-444-5251 or (800)-821-7284 (MTPHL Number).
• Properly complete ONE online order for EACH culture submitted. Select the specific suspected Biothreat Organism Culture from the list (e.g., Bacillus anthracis Culture). ONE culture and ONE form per biohazard bag please!
• DO NOT SEND PATIENT SPECIMENS/ISOLATES WITH LPX CULTURES! The patient specimens will not be processed.
• Cultures should be triple packaged (primary container sealed with parafilm; leakproof secondary container with absorbent material and marked with biohazard symbol; rigid outer container with proper address and proper UN label depending on whether you are sending the culture as a Category A or B agent) and marked with “LPX EXERCISE” on the outside of the outer container.
• Any culture must be shipped as a UN3373 or UN2814 regardless of it arriving by courier. The choice of the shipping category is dependent upon how your facility wishes the packaging to be evaluated and whether personnel are trained and certified to ship Category A (UN2814) packages.
• We will evaluate your packaging and your shipping documentation. We do not evaluate your culture results.
• Refer to your 202 LPX-A P&S feedback letter and check list for guidance on problematic areas.