Culture, Ureaplasma Species and Mycoplasma Hominis

Mycoplasma hominis Culture, Ureaplasma Culture, Culture, Ureaplasma

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232129, Beaker: MycoUreaCult, Quest: 871

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• This culture is for genital and/or urinary specimens ONLY.
• Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma are highly fastidious in their requirements for growth. Specimens must be kept moist.
• Samples must be collected in Universal Transport Media that has been validated for Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma transport, such as M4. Media only validated for viral transport is not acceptable.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One of the following specimen types:

1. Fluid (amniotic, semen, prostatic secretions, and urine).
• Collect in a sterile collection container. Fluid must be transferred to UTM after collection: Place 3.0 mL (minimum 1.0 mL) of fluid, swab, or tissue in UTM (Universal Transport Medium).
• Collect urine specimen from women by urethral catheterization. A first-void urine specimen should be collected from men.
• NOTE: Urethral swabs from men and vaginal or cervical swabs from women are preferred over urine specimens for detection of genital mycoplasmas.
2. Swab specimens in UTM (urethra, vagina, cervix).
• Flocked, Dacron and polyester swabs are acceptable.
• Collect by swabbing back and forth over the mucosa or surface to maximize recovery of cells.
• Place and swirl swab into UTM (Universal Transport Medium).
• NOTE: Do not use cotton swabs, vaginal lubricants or antiseptics prior to collection. They are inhibitory to these microorganisms.
3. Tissue.
• Collect in a sterile container with sufficient UTM to prevent drying.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Place 0.5 mL (minimum 0.3 mL) of fluid, swab, or tissue in UTM (Universal Transport Medium). Arrange for transport to the Laboratory prior to specimen collection. Maintain specimens frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: All specimen types in an appropriate container, refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Rejection Criteria

• Molecular transport systems.
• Wooden-shaft and calcium alginate swabs. 
• Urine containing preservatives.
• Specimen received in M4RT transport media.
• Specimens submitted in expired transport media.
• Specimens received greater than 24 hours after collection.
• Specimens not received in transport media.
• Specimens no collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Place 3.0 mL (minimum 1.0 mL) of fluid, swab, or tissue in UTM (Universal Transport Medium).

Transport: All specimen types in an appropriate container, refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Storage or transport at -20°C is not acceptable. After collection, refrigerate up to 48 hours prior to shipment.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 12 hours (preferred), 48 hours
Frozen (-20°C Unacceptable/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Daily.
Results available 5-7 days.

Reference Range

Mycoplasma hominis	Not Isolated
Ureaplasma species	Not Isolated

Test Methodology

Culture

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Mycoplasma hominis/Ureaplasma Culture – Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis are primarily associated with genital tract colonization and disease in adults and respiratory tract colonization and disease in newborns. Though controversial, these organisms have been associated with endometritis, chorioamnionitis, premature rupture of membranes, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, post-partum infections, and infertility. Of particular concern is the causal relationship between central nervous system infections in the premature newborn and U. urealyticum.

Clinical Disease

• The most common syndrome associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum in men is nongonococcal urethritis (NGU). The etiology of NGU remains uncertain but U. urealyticum has been more frequently isolated from patients with NGU than from appropriate controls in several well-designed studies. Without treatment, the disease continues for 1 to 3 months.
• Ureaplasma urealyticum has been isolated from nasopharyngeal secretions and endotracheal aspirates of infants 3 months or younger with pneumonia. It may be a cause of lower respiratory tract disease in neonates and young infants. In women, U. urealyticum has been isolated in pure culture from Bartholin gland abscesses, tubo-ovarian and pelvic abscesses, and salpingitis (1).
• M. hominis is associated with both genitourinary and nongenital infections. These include: cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease, urinary tract infections, chorioammnionitis, postpartum fever and bacteremia as well as arthritis, wound infections, endocarditis and respiratory tract infections. In neonates, it can cause meningoencephalitis, bacteremia and abscesses. Specimens to be tested for M. hominis are those normally obtained for cultures from the infected sites. M. hominis may be part of the normal genital flora. 

Epidemiology

The primary reservoir of the human U. urealyticum is the genital tract of sexually active adults. Colonization is found in approximately one half of sexually active adults, can be prolonged, but is rare in prepubertal children and in those not sexually active. Mycoplasma hominis can be isolated from a variety body fluids from the genital tract (1). Newborns who are colonized are presumed to have been exposed during passage through the birth canal. Neonatal colonization is transient and decreases with age.

Incubation Period

After sexual transmission the incubation period is 10-20 days (1).

Transmission

Transmission during delivery is likely from an asymptomatic infected mother to her newborn. U. urealyticum may colonize the throat, eyes, umbilicus, and perineum of newborns. U. urealyticum has been isolated from the lower airways and lung biopsies of preterm infants with pneumonia and chronic lung disease (1). M. hominis can be acquired by neonates during delivery.

Reference

1. Waites, K.B., C.M. Bebear, J.A. Robertson, D.F. Talkington and G.E. Kenny, 2001. Cumitech 34. Laboratory diagnosis of mycoplasmal infections. Coordinating ed., F.S. Nolte. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.
2. Waites, K.B., B.Katz, R.L.Schelonka. 2005. Mycoplasmas and Ureaplasmas as neonatal pathogens. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 18: 757-89.

CPT Codes

87109

Contacts

Last Updated

12/18/2025