Culture may be performed on a specimen with negative PCR results

An acute illness characterized by parotitis/other salivary gland swelling (lasting at least 2 days), orchitis or oophoritis unexplained by another more likely diagnosis.

Swab:

BBL Culture Swab, Culturettes, Dacron swabs in Viral transport media: UTM, M4 or M5.

Urine:

Screw cap plastic container (sterile)

Buccal swab or 10-40 mL urine

Considering day 0 as swelling onset date:

Day 0-5 of swelling: buccal swab
Day 6-9 of swelling: buccal swab and urine

Buccal swab:

1. Massage the buccal cavity (the space near the upper rear molars between the cheek and the teeth) for 30 and swab the area; obtain a generous amount of saliva.
2. Place swab in a sterile tube containing 2 - 3 mL transport media.

Urine:

1. Collect 10 - 40 mL of urine in a sterile urine specimen container.
2. Have patient void directly into container, collecting from the first part of the urine stream if possible.
3. First-morning voided specimens are ideal, but any urine collection is adequate.

Throat swab (acceptable, but not preferred)

1. Vigorously swab tonsillar areas and posterior nasopharynx with a viral culturette.
   1. Use tongue blade to depress tongue to prevent contamination of swab with saliva.
2. Place swab into 2 - 3 mL of transport media.

Notify MDH that specimens are being sent. Use mumps reporting form or call (651) 201-5414 or toll-free at (877) 676-5414

Swab:

BBL Culture Swab, Culturettes, Dacron swabs in Viral transport media: UTM, M4 or M5.

Urine:

Screw cap plastic container (sterile)

• MDH Infectious Disease Laboratory submission form
• MDH Mumps reporting form

Refrigerate

• Wood-tipped applicators, Cotton-tipped swabs, Calcium-alginate tipped swabs, Charcoal swabs, Gel swabs
• Anaerobic media

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Negative

Lab Testing for Mumps at the MDH Public Health Laboratory