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Clinical Microbiology
The mission of the Clinical Microbiology laboratory is to provide laboratory support to local health departments, clinics, hospitals, physicians, and units of Kansas government for the detection and identification of infectious bacterial diseases and parasites. These services assist in the medical treatment of Kansas residents and provide the state public health programs with disease incidence information to guide prevention and intervention efforts to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases within the state.
Analytical services provided by the Clinical Microbiology laboratory include confirmation of Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), including E. coli O157:H7. Vibrio cholerae and Yersinia enterocolitica identification is also available upon request. Neisseria Gonorrhoeae identification is provided for culture isolates that were isolated from body sites for which the nucleic acid testing methods normally used are not approved. Additionally, KHEL now tests for Carbapenem-Resistant Organisms. Laboratory testing for M. tuberculosis and other mycobacteria is provided to various health care providers in the state and includes identification of mycobacteria.
Learn more about clinical microbiology:
- Bacteriology: Identification of unusual bacteria
- Mycobacteriology: Culture and identification of tuberculosis and other mycobacterium
- PulseNet: Outbreak detection of foodborne bacteria
Universal Laboratory Specimen Submission Form Requests
Specimens for screening of enteric bacterial pathogens, parasites, and mycobacterium can be sent to the laboratory by using collections kits provided by the laboratory. Specimen kits can be ordered by mailing or faxing an order form to the customer service unit at the laboratory. View the Specimen Kit Request Form
Change Request Authorization Form
Use the Change Request Authorization Form (PDF) for all demographic corrections, test additions, or other laboratory report modifications. The form must be signed, dated, and faxed to the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) before any final changes will be made on all preliminary or final laboratory reports.
Laboratory Report Delivery Form
Use the Laboratory Report Delivery Form (PDF) to update or add report recipient information for laboratory report delivery. The form must be signed, dated, and faxed to the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) before any changes will be made to the current laboratory report delivery method.
Report Request Form
Use the Report Request Form (PDF) to request additional copies of laboratory reports. One form is required for each patient. The form must be signed, dated, and faxed to the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) before any changes will be made to the current laboratory report delivery method.
Specimen Guidelines
The guidelines for Tuberculosis (TB) has recently changed. For more information, please see Tuberculosis Testing Rejection Update. For additional information, please see the Tuberculosis Testing Sputum Submission Instructions.
For all human specimens submitted for microbiology testing, see the Clinical Microbiology Specimen Submission Guidelines (PDF) for specific collection, rejection, and transport guidelines. For human stool specimens submitted for gastrointestinal outbreaks, or work or daycare exclusion testing for STEC or Shigella. See Instructions for the Collection of Stool Specimens for Gastrointestinal Illness Testing (PDF).
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Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
Physical Address
6810 SE Dwight Street
Topeka, KS 66620
Fax: 785-559-5205
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Lauren Large
Health Section ChiefPhone: 785-296-2244