To detect and diagnose infection with Bordetella pertussis, which causes pertussis, also known as whooping cough
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Tests
- When you have ongoing spasms or fits of coughing (paroxysms) that your healthcare practitioner suspects are due to whooping cough (pertussis)
- When you have symptoms of a cold and have been exposed to someone with whooping cough
- A nasopharyngeal (NP) swab or a nasal aspirate
- Occasionally, a blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm
None
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How are they used?
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When are they ordered?
Whooping cough tests may be ordered when you have signs and symptoms that suggest a pertussis infection. Your healthcare practitioner may have a strong suspicion that you have whooping cough if:
- You have the classic "whoop,"
- You have cold symptoms and have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with whooping cough
- There is a known whooping cough outbreak in the community
Testing should not be performed on close contacts who do not have symptoms.
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What does the test result mean?
PCR test:
- A positive PCR test means that genetic material (i.e., DNA) from B. pertussis was detected in your specimen, indicating that you have been infected. However, the PCR test may also be positive with other Bordetella species.
- A negative PCR test means that it is less likely that you have whooping cough but does not rule it out. If there are very few bacteria present in the sample, they may not be detected by PCR.
- A positive culture is diagnostic for whooping cough.
- Similar to PCR, a negative culture does not rule out whooping cough. Culture results are dependent on proper specimen collection and transport, how long you have had symptoms prior to collection, and whether there was any prior antibiotic treatment before the sample was collected.
Both culture and PCR tests are less likely to be positive as the illness progresses.
With blood testing, pertussis IgG antibodies will be present in those who have been vaccinated or have had a past infection. IgM and IgA antibodies may indicate recent vaccination or infection and will only be present for a short period of time (2-3 months). Blood testing is not typically recommended for the diagnosis of active whooping cough and is most useful after approximately 3-4 weeks of symptoms.
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How is a whooping cough treated?
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When is the pertussis vaccine given?
Three different formulations of the pertussis vaccine are available, typically in combination with the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines (DPT). The vaccination is given to infants as a series of shots. Children who have not completed the series of vaccinations are at a higher risk of becoming infected. Even some people who have been vaccinated may still be infected by B. pertussis, but they tend to have a less severe illness.
Pregnant women are advised to be re-vaccinated to prevent transmission of pertussis to their newborns. Grandparents and other caretakers who will be spending time with a newborn are also advised to be re-vaccinated.
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Why is my travel history important to my healthcare practitioner?
International travelers should be aware that many resource-limited countries do not have widespread vaccination programs for whooping cough. Infants who have not completed their series of vaccinations and people who have not had a recent booster vaccine may be at an increased risk of contracting whooping cough.
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Can a throat swab be used instead of a nasopharyngeal sample from my nose?
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Can whooping cough testing be done in my healthcare practitioner's office?
No. There is no simple, rapid diagnostic test for whooping cough. It requires specialized equipment and is typically performed in clinical laboratories. Not every laboratory performs this testing and samples may need to be sent to a public health laboratory.
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Why did my doctor report my child's whooping cough?
Healthcare practitioners are required to report whooping cough to state health departments. Outbreaks are tracked and interventions, such as vaccination and appropriate prophylactic antibiotic treatment, may be provided to help limit the outbreak.
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My doctor said I have Bordetella parapertussis. Is this the same as whooping cough?
B. parapertussis are bacteria that can infect humans in the same manner as B. pertussis, but the infection usually causes a milder respiratory illness. Culture methods and PCR tests can detect and distinguish B. parapertussis from B. pertussis, and both are commonly tested for since the signs and symptoms may be similar in people with either infection. Blood tests may not detect antibodies to B. parapertussis and there is no vaccine to prevent B. parapertussis infection.
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Is there anything else I should know?