B.pertussis can infect people of all ages but can be severe and often fatal in infants less than 1 year old.
Although pertussis is primarily considered a paediatric disease it can also be endemic in young adults and cause a chronic cough.
B.pertussis can infect people of all ages but can be severe and often fatal in infants less than 1 year old.
Although pertussis is primarily considered a paediatric disease it can also be endemic in young adults and cause a chronic cough.
B.pertussis causes a toxin-mediated disease. The toxin causes inflammation and interferes with the clearance of pulmonary secretions.
Infection may be asymptomatic or typically starts with cold-like symptoms, including a mild cough, runny nose and low-grade fever. Infants can also present with apnea. This period is known as the catarrhal stage. After 1-2 weeks, the disease progresses into the paroxysmal stage and shows more traditional whooping cough symptoms including coughing fits followed by a high pitched inspiratory ‘whoop’. During the convalescence stage, recovery occurs gradually over weeks to months.
B.pertussis spreads easily from person-to-person through respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. The average incubation period of pertussis is 7-10 days with a range of 4-21 days.
Pertussis vaccination is included in the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule, which can be reviewed HERE.
Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) placed in up to 3 mL of viral transport media, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or sputum (collected in a sterile universal container).
The test for Bordetella Pertussis offered by Enfer Medical is carried out by real-time multiplexed PCR, as part of an extended respiratory panel. This test is CE-IVD certified.
Viruses | Bacteria |
Adenovirus | Bordetella parapertussis |
Coronavirus (229E, HKU1, NL63, OC43) | Bordetella pertussis |
SARS-CoV-2 | Chlamydia pneumoniae |
Human Metapneumovirus | Mycoplasma pneumoniae |
Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus | |
Influenza A (H1, H3, H1-2009) | |
Influenza B | |
Parainfluenza Virus (PIV-1, PIV-2, PIV-3, PIV-4) | |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus |
For clients using the Enfer Medical Client Portal, the Enfer Medical Patient Request Form (PRF) will be generated when you have completed your “Test Request” within the portal linked below.
Please note that samples suspected of containing high risk pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis should be clearly identified on the form and packed separately from other samples.
Results are available next working day.
This assay is available seven days a week.
The packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory are required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. HSE guidance can be reviewed HERE.
There are specific packaging instructions and labelling requirements requiring triple packaging including:
Further information on the packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory is contained within the Enfer Medical Laboratory User Manual which clients are provided with.
Samples must be tested within 4 hours of collection if stored at room temperature. Samples must be tested within 3 days of collection if stored at 2-8°C.
In addition to the packaging of samples, the transport/delivery of clinical samples to the laboratory is required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. Enfer Medical provides a fully compliant logistics service, aligned with clients’ testing requirements.
Prompt transport of specimens:
To ensure prompt testing of samples and release of results within the published test turnaround times, samples should arrive to the laboratory by 18:00. Test turnaround time is measured from receipt of the sample at the laboratory until the time the authorised results are reported to users.
In rare cases specimens may not be suitable for testing on arrival to the laboratory. In that case the sample will be rejected at the receipt stage and the service user will be notified immediately and an explanation as to why the sample could not be processed will be provided. Reasons why samples cannot be processed include but are not limited to:
Please refer to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre for the Case Definitions for Notifiable Diseases:
Following receipt at the Laboratory, results should be available on the next working day and will be reported to the referring clinician via the Enfer Medical Client Portal or in a format agreed with clients.
Established clients can login to the portal using the link above.