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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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CULTURE, RESPIRATORY, LOWER, AEROBIC

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB2142    Geisinger Epic ID:  47522

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Expectorated/deep cough sputum, aspirated sputum, tracheal aspirate, bronch aspirate.


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
Sterile specimen container
Specimen required: 

1 mL


Special notes: 

For Bronchial lavages and washings, order Quantitative Bronchial Culture. See Respiratory Culture Ordering Practices for additional information.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Transport temperature: 

Sterile specimen container/trap: Room temperature.


Specimen stability: 

Sterile specimen container/trap: < 24 hours


Rejection criteria: 

Improperly labeled/identified specimens, 24-hour sputum collections, duplicate specimens from the same day, sputum/tracheal aspirate specimens deemed not suitable due to contamination with oral secretions (patients >6 years old only). Expired collection device/swab. Grossly contaminated specimens. Delay in transport or transport at wrong temperature.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

No growth. Normal pharyngeal flora.


Additional information: 

The College of American Pathologists recommends that a Gram stain be performed on all sputum or tracheal aspirate specimens to determine specimen suitability. For that reason, a Gram stain will be ordered and performed at an additional charge for this purpose. Culture will not be performed if the specimen is deemed unacceptable due to excessive contamination with oral secretions.


CPT code(s):  87070, 87205
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Isolation, semi-quantitation, and identification of aerobic respiratory pathogens and semi-quantitation of normal flora. Bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing performed as appropriate. Additional charges may apply.


Methodology: 
Culture
Synonyms: 

Respiratory, pneumonia, tracheal aspirate, trach, sputum, culture, LRESPC


Clinical significance: 

Isolation of potential respiratory pathogens can be useful in the diagnosis of respiratory tract infection. The significance of any isolate must be evaluated when normal oral flora is present.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Donna Wolk PhD, D(ABMM)
Raquel Martinez, PhD, D(ABMM)
Review Date:  12/31/2024

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