T. pallidum Spirochete Request For Training

Requestors

CDC provides a viable Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T. pallidum) strain for darkfield microscopy training.

These materials are intended solely for public health laboratories and other institutions in the United States for training purposes.

• T. pallidum bacteria are provided as live, cryopreserved cultures in frozen aliquots of approximately 0.5 –1 mL.
• Preparations will yield approximately 5 –10 organisms per coverslip.
• T. pallidum are provided solely for darkfield microscopy training.
• The cultures are shipped only to addresses within the United States.
• Requests must be submitted at least 14 business days before the requested shipment date.
• The receiving facility must have appropriate biosafety practices, facilities, and approvals for handling live T. pallidum bacteria.

How to Request Spirochetes

To request cultures for darkfield microscopy training, email the CDC STD Laboratory Reference & Research Branch at stdlaboratoryspecim@cdc.gov.
Attention: Drs. Allan Pillay or Weiping Medlin

Include the following information in your request

1. Requestor name.
2. Title/Position.
3. Institution name and complete shipping address.
4. Phone number and email address.
5. Institution type:
   1. U.S. public health
   2. Academic
   3. Government
6. Number of vials needed.
7. Purpose or intended use.
8. Institution's FedEx account number.
9. Requested delivery date.

The requestor must agree to follow appropriate safety precautions when handling live spirochetes, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

The requestor must also acknowledge that the spirochetes will be used only for the intended purpose of laboratory training in darkfield microscopy.