Expanded ​Carbape​​​​​​nemase Testing Services at the Microbial Diseases Laboratory February 1st, 2023

​​​As part of statewide and national surveillance efforts focused on antimicrobial resistant pathogens, the California Department of Public Health’s Microbial Diseases Laboratory (MDL) currently offers phenotypic and molecular testing services to confirm and characterize carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). The following services are provided for infection control, surveillance and epidemiologic investigation purposes:

1. Modified Carbapenem Inactivation Method (mCIM) testing for detection of carbapenemase-producing isolates​
2. ​Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for carbapenemase genes bla_KPC, bla​_NDM, bla_OXA48, bla_VIM, and bla_IMP
3. ​​​Whole genome sequencing for carbapenemase gene detection and phylogenetic characterization (upon approval by the Healthcare-Associated Infections Program)
4. ​​​​Assistance for submission for expanded antimicrobial susceptibility testing (ExAST) and other services through the Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network (ARLN)​
   

Effective February 1st, 2023, the MDL will offer limited expanded antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) for 18 antibiotics utilizing the Sensititre^TM Gram Negative GNX2F AST panel.​ ​Testing will be conducted for surveillance purposes in order to further characterize antibiotic resistance patterns in pan-resistant and pan-nonsusceptible CRE, CRPA and CRAB isolates; CRE isolates that are positive for carbapenemase genes bla_NDM, bla_OXA-48-like, bla_VIM, or bla_IMP by real-time PCR; and CRPA isolates that are positive for carbapenemase production or/and carbapenemase genes bla_KPC, bla_NDM, bla_IMP, bla_VIM or bla_OXA-48-like. Isolates submitted for mCIM or PCR testing that meet testing criteria may be reflexed to the Sensititre^TM AST.​
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​Updated testing information and guidance are provided at ​​Expanded Carbapenemase Testin​​g ​​​​​S​​​​​​​​​​​ervices Frequently Asked Questions FAQ​. ​​

​​​Additional information on CRE, CRPA and CRAB is available from the CDPH Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program​​ at Healt​hcare-Associated Infections (HAI).

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Key Contact Information: 

• ​​mCIM, Real-time PCR, and Sensititer^TM AST Broth Microdilution​​
  

MDL Bacterial Diseases Section (BDS) Laboratory:
Phone: (510) 412-3903
Email: MDLBDS@cdph.ca.gov​

• Whole Genome Sequencing
  

MDL Molecular Characterization Unit Laboratory:​​
Phone: (510) 412-3940​​
Email: ​MDL.Submissions@cdph.ca.gov​

• ​​CDPH Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program​​
  

HAI Program:
Phone: (510) 412-6060
Email: HAIProgram@cdph.ca.gov​
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