Bacteriology primary culture

TEST DESCRIPTION

Detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria in a human specimen by aerobic and/or anaerobic culture.

Methodology

Aerobic and/or anaerobic culture

Reference range

No pathogen isolated                                                                   

TEST FREQUENCY & RESULT AVAILABILITY

Performed daily. Preliminary and final results are typically available within 1 and 3 days, respectively.

ACCEPTABLE SPECIMEN TYPES AND COLLECTION

• Abscess or wound aspirate
• Biopsy material
• Swab of superficial wound
• Tissue sample
• Wound drainage fluid
• Detailed collection instructions appear below

Note: Any specimen that is being cultured for anaerobic culture must be in a Stuart’s or Amies collection tube or equivalent.

SPECIMEN STORAGE & TRANSPORT

Store and transport at refrigerated to room temperature (4–25°C/40–77°F) within 48 hours. 

REJECTION CRITERIA

• Holding time greater than 48 hours or inappropriate storage temperature
• Syringes with the needle attached
• Dried out specimens
• Drainage tubes
• Swabs in transport systems other than Stuart’s or Amies
• Specimens with quantity not sufficient for testing
• Specimen container not labeled
• Specimen container has leaked or is not sealed properly 

CODES

CPT: 87070

LOINC: 23667-9

Test code: 2025

TEST FEE

Refer to the current fee schedule.

DETAILED SPECIMEN COLLECTION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Any specimen that is being sent for anaerobic culture must be in a Stuart’s or Amies collection tube or equivalent.
2. Tissue samples
   1. Small tissues: Collect in a sterile vial or tube with physiological saline or anaerobe transport vial if an anaerobic culture is requested.
   2. Large tissues: Collect in a sterile cup with physiological saline. The tissue can be placed in a saline soaked gauze pad to keep it moist, then placed into the sterile cup.
   3. Tissue samples for anaerobic culture should ideally be collected in anaerobic media systems such as PRAS media. 
3. Fine-needle biopsies 
   1. Place in a sterile tube with a broth culture medium or physiological saline.
4. Wound or abscess aspirates
   1. Disinfect the skin surface with 70% alcohol. Allow it to dry.
   2. Aspirate specimen directly into a syringe. Remove air from syringe.
   3. Aseptically transfer aspirate into a sterile container.
   4. If the specimen must be transported in the syringe, replace the needle with a sterile Leur cap.
   5. If unable to aspirate and swab is used, pass a swab deep into the lesion and firmly sample the lesion’s advancing edge. Place swab into Amies transport medium for aerobes.
   6. Samples should be transported to the laboratory within 30 minutes when anaerobes are highly suspected.
5. Swabs 
   1. Collect and transport in a transport system with Stuart’s or Amies medium to preserve the specimen and keep it moist and to neutralize the inhibitory effects of swabs. In the gel media, the moisture and the depth of the media further provide an ideal environment for the survival of anaerobic organisms. 
   2. Note: Fisherfinest Bacteriology Culture Collection and transport System contains Amies media.
6. Drainages/aspirates
   1. Fluid should be placed in a sterile leakproof container.