Chlamydia trachomatis, TMA (Alternate Target), Urogenital
Test Code
Clinical Significance
Chlamydia trachomatis, TMA (Alternate Target), Urogenital - Several methods are available for the detection of C. trachomatis in clinical specimens, including giemsa staining of tissue, fluorescent antibody staining, culture, and nucleic acid detection. Although culture is very specific, it lacks sensitivity, so recommendations have been put forth to include multiple tests in assisting with a diagnosis of infection, including tests such as the CT/NG Aptima TMA Assay.
Test Resources
Test FAQ
Chlamydia trachomatis, TMASpecimen Handling - Specimen Collection Guide
Specimen Collection guides for AptimaTest Details
Methodology
Reference Range(s)
Alternative Name(s)
Preferred Specimen(s)
1 vaginal, endocervical or urethral swab collected in an Aptima® Vaginal Swab Specimen Collection kit or Multitest collection kit, or Unisex swab specimen collection kit or
2 mL urine with no preservative transferred into an Aptima® urine collection kit or
1 mL PreservCyt® (ThinPrep®) transferred into Aptima® Specimen Transfer tube (green label) or Aptima® Vaginal Swab Specimen Collection kit or Multitest collection kit Collection tube (orange label)
Collection Instructions
Swabs: Swab must be submitted in Aptima® Multitest Collection Kit (orange label), or Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Tube (white label). Follow instructions in the Aptima® Specimen Collection Kits for Vaginal, Endocervical and Urethral Swab Specimens package insert. In females, to ensure collection of an adequate specimen, columnar epithelial cells lining the endocervix should be obtained. To that effect, excess mucus should be removed prior to sampling by using the white shaft cleaning swab which is discarded after use.
Collection Container: Aptima® Multitest Collection Kit (orange label), or Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit (white label).
Urine: Urine must be submitted in Aptima® Urine Specimen Collection Tube within 24 hours of collection. The patient should not have urinated for at least one hour prior to specimen collection. Direct patient to provide a first-catch urine (approximately 20-30 mL of the initial urine stream) into a urine collection cup free of any preservatives. Collection of larger volumes of urine may result in specimen dilution that may reduce test sensitivity. Female patients should not cleanse the labial area prior to providing the specimen. Thus, a urine sample collected from a female for Chlamydia/GC TMA cannot be collected at the same voiding event as that urine which would be intended for bacterial culture. Remove the cap of the Aptima® Urine Specimen Collection Tube and transfer 2 mL of urine into the urine specimen transport tube using the disposable pipette provided. The correct volume of urine has been added when the fluid level is between the black lines within the clear pane on the urine specimen transport tube label.
Collection Container: Aptima® Urine Specimen Collection Tube.
PreservCyt® (ThinPrep®): Transfer 1 mL of ThinPrep PreservCyt solution into Aptima® Specimen Transfer Tube (green label) or Aptima® Multitest Collection Tube (orange label).
Transport Container
Aptima® transport tube
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
- Endocervical, urethral and vaginal swabs
Room temperature: 60 days
Refrigerated: 60 days
Frozen: 1 year
Urine in Aptima® urine collection kit
Room temperature: 30 days
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 1 year
PreservCyt® solution specimen in Aptima®
Room temperature: 14 days
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 1 year
Reject Criteria
Transport tubes with 2 swabs • Non-Aptima® transport tubes and swabs • Transport tubes containing white cleaning swabs • Over or underfilled Aptima® urine tubes
Setup Schedule
2 mL urine with no preservative transferred into an Aptima® urine collection kit or
1 mL PreservCyt® (ThinPrep®) transferred into Aptima® Specimen Transfer tube (green label) or Aptima® Vaginal Swab Specimen Collection kit or Multitest collection kit Collection tube (orange label)
Collection Container: Aptima® Multitest Collection Kit (orange label), or Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit (white label).
Urine: Urine must be submitted in Aptima® Urine Specimen Collection Tube within 24 hours of collection. The patient should not have urinated for at least one hour prior to specimen collection. Direct patient to provide a first-catch urine (approximately 20-30 mL of the initial urine stream) into a urine collection cup free of any preservatives. Collection of larger volumes of urine may result in specimen dilution that may reduce test sensitivity. Female patients should not cleanse the labial area prior to providing the specimen. Thus, a urine sample collected from a female for Chlamydia/GC TMA cannot be collected at the same voiding event as that urine which would be intended for bacterial culture. Remove the cap of the Aptima® Urine Specimen Collection Tube and transfer 2 mL of urine into the urine specimen transport tube using the disposable pipette provided. The correct volume of urine has been added when the fluid level is between the black lines within the clear pane on the urine specimen transport tube label.
Collection Container: Aptima® Urine Specimen Collection Tube.
PreservCyt® (ThinPrep®): Transfer 1 mL of ThinPrep PreservCyt solution into Aptima® Specimen Transfer Tube (green label) or Aptima® Multitest Collection Tube (orange label).
Room temperature: 60 days
Refrigerated: 60 days
Frozen: 1 year
Urine in Aptima® urine collection kit
Room temperature: 30 days
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 1 year
PreservCyt® solution specimen in Aptima®
Room temperature: 14 days
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 1 year