Outdated media will significantly reduce the viability of the organism. Please ensure kits have not exceeded the expiry date. Pertussis Kits containing Regan Lowe Transport Media are available through the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health, Edmonton. Please label EACH slide and bottle of transport media that is submitted with the patient's name. Please transport the specimen to the laboratory as quickly as possible .
Pertussis is a notifiable disease.
Pertussis is typically a childhood disease, however illness in adults is becoming more common, possibly due to waning immunity. The disease is less severe in older patients, but since it represents a reservoir for infection of young children, diagnosis and treatment is important. A cough of longer than two weeks duration is typical of pertussis in older patients. Antibiotic therapy should be initiated promptly to minimize secondary spread. There is no need to culture asymptomatic contacts prior to prescribing chemoprophylaxis.