Specimen Collection:

Specimen of choice for whooping cough: two (2) nasopharyngeal swabs. Acceptable specimens: bronchial or nasopharyngeal secretions and transtracheal aspirates.

Insert sterile nasopharyngeal Dacron-tipped swabs with fine-wire shaft or calcium alginate swabs gently into one or both nares to the posterior pharynx; rotate to collect mucous membrane cells and then withdraw. Follow the directions below for culture.
Use appropriate sterile swab to collect alternative specimens, bronchial or nasopharyngeal secretions and transtracheal aspirates.
Use swab to streak surface of Regan-Lowe agar plate (available from Public Health Laboratory). If Regan Lowe medium is not available, a nasopharyngeal swab can be transported within 24 hours in Stuart or Amies transport medium, but this is not recommended.
Transport at room temperature.

DFA is performed on clinical specimens and reported as a preliminary result. Cultures on Regan Lowe agar are checked for up to 7 days before reporting no growth.