APPENDIX IV 
Reference Diagnostic Services A vailable at NCDC 
Reference services of the various laboratories of 
the NCDC are offered to assist the State public health 
laboratories. Specimens should not be submitted 
for routine diagnostic tests. Reference specimens 
may be submitted only by the State health depart- 
ment laboratory. They must conform with postal 
regulations, as well as with NCDC instructions for 
labelling and transmitting specimens, and for pack- 
aging specimens for air mail shipments. Specimens 
arriving in damaged condition will be destroyed with- 
out examination. 
The appropriate receiving laboratory should be 
checked on the mailing label to insure prompt de- 
livery of specimens. Specimens should be mailed so 
as not to arrive in the laboratory on a Saturday, Sun- 
day, or holiday. Except as indicated on the list be- 
low, specimens sent to NCDC laboratories should be 
accompanied by a diagnostic report form available 
from the NCDC. 
Laboratory support to epidemiological investiga- 
tions, survey studies, or special research projects 
should be arranged by prior consultation with the 
Chief of the Laboratory Program. 
REFERENCE SERVICES AVAILABLE 
RECEIVING LABORATORY 
Bacteriology 
Identification, toxigenicity testing, and typing of C. diphtheriae 
Slide agglutination and microscopic tests for leptospirosis. Submit form 
PHS 3.203E with these specimens. 
Febrile agglutination tests 
Serotyping of Listeria 
Sera for the diagnosis of infections with S. typhi and other Salmonella 
types accepted only under exceptional circumstances. Sera for agglu- 
tination tests for diagnosis of bacillary dysentery are not accepted 
because they are of no value for this purpose. 
Bacterial Serology Unit 
Grouping of meningococci. Drug sensitivity testing. 
Identification of miscellaneous bacteria other than the Enterobacteria- 
ceae, streptococci, C. diphtheriae, and mycobacteria. (Miscellaneous 
bacteria cannot be accepted for identification unless they are accom- 
panied by a complete history. ) 
Identification of anaerobic bacteria and their toxins. 
Bacteriophage typing of staphylococci. (Only epidemiologically related 
cultures will be accepted. ) 
Focal point for processing of bacteriology intrastate laboratory evalua- 
tion specimens. 
Bacterial Reference Unit 
Serological grouping of beta hemolytic streptococci and typing of Group 
A and Group B streptococci. 
Biochemical differentiation of other streptococci and of pneumococci. 
Serotyping of pneumococci. 
Micro-antistreptolysin 0 determinations. 
Streptococcus Unit 
Identification of Salmonella, Shigella, and Arizona types. 
Bacteriophage typing of S. typhi, S. paratyphi B, and S. typhimurium. 
Typing of Escherichia cultures from outbreaks of diarrhea in infants. 
Typing of Klebsiella cultures in particular instances. 
Identification of other enteric bacteria as warranted by clinical and epi- 
demiological considerations. 
Enteric Bacteriology Unit 
Identification of acid-fast bacilli. 
Determination of drug susceptibility of acid-fast bacilli. 
Tuberculosis Unit 
Serotyping of leptospira cultures isolated from human, animal, or en- 
vironmental sources. 
Veterinary Public Health 
Laboratory Unit 
(Epidemiology Program) 
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