North Carolina Administrative Code
Title 10A - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 42 - LABORATORY SERVICES
Subchapter B - LABORATORY SECTIONS
Section 42B .0105 - MICROBIOLOGY

(a) This laboratory isolates and identifies anaerobic organisms and serves as a reference laboratory for confirmation of further identification of anaerobic bacteria.

(b) The laboratory examines fecal specimens for enteric pathogens from symptomatic patients, typhoid carriers, and contacts of such individuals. Environmental samples, such as food and water from aquariums or turtle bowls are examined if they are implicated as vehicles of infection. This laboratory is the designated serotyping center for the state of all isolates of salmonella and shigella for confirmation and surveillance purposes.

(c) This laboratory isolates and identifies pathogenic fungi from body tissues and fluids and serves as a reference laboratory for confirmation or further identification of fungi.

(d) This laboratory examines fecal and other specimens from symptomatic patients for the eggs, cysts, and larvae of the intestinal parasitic worms and protozoa. Blood smears are examined for parasitic blood diseases, such as malaria. Reference specimens or prepared stained slides from preserved material, biopsy material and tissue aspirates for tissue parasites are also accepted. Identification of arthropods is made.

(e) This laboratory accepts a wide variety of bacteria which have been isolated by hospital or other laboratories, which are unusual, difficult to identify, fastidious, or infrequently encountered, thereby serving as a reference laboratory for other laboratories.

(f) Sputa and specimens from other sources are examined for mycobacteria, including MYCOBATERIUM TUBERCULOSIS and all isolates are tested for drug susceptibility using the drugs most commonly used for treating tuberculosis.

(g) This laboratory may examine, upon request of an authorized sender of specimens, a variety of other specimens as the public health may require.