Culture, Upper Respiratory (Nasal/Nasopharyngeal)
Orderable EAP code:
Billable EAP Codes:
CPT Codes:
Lab Section:
Turnaround Time:
48 hours
Test Schedule:
Monday through Friday, 6 am to 7 pm.
Specimen Requirements:
Preferred specimen type:
E-Swab (Aerobes and Anaerobes) (Opens in a new window) (Opens in a new window)
Stuart Swab (Aerobes only) (Opens in a new window)
Storage and Transport: Once a swab sample is collected, it should be placed immediately into the E-Swab transport tube or Stuart swab where it comes in contact with the transport medium. It should be transported to the laboratory, preferably within 2 hours of collection to maintain optimum organism viability. If immediate delivery is delayed, then specimens should be refrigerated at 4 to 8 degrees C or stored at room temperature (20 to 25 degrees C) and processed within 48 hours.
Rejection criteria: Unlabeled specimens, mislabeled specimens, expired media, or past stability.
Pediatric Specimen Requirements:
See above.
Culture, Cystic Fibrosis
Orderable EAP code:
Billable EAP Codes:
CPT Codes:
Lab Section:
Turnaround Time:
Preliminary: 3 days
Final: 7 days
Test Schedule:
7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm
Specimen Requirements:
Acceptable specimens:
• Deep pharyngeal: cough or gagged, throat specimen submitted using a Stuart swab, Plastic-shaft, Dacron or rayon-tipped (flocked swab preferred/preferably samples collected and submitted with an E-SWAB) in the back of the throat and induce coughing (this technique is used for children).
• Sputum: cough, induced.
• Endotracheal aspirates (for ventilated patients): submit in a sterile container.
• Bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL): protected specimen brushings and transbronchial specimens.
Specimen transport and stability: Transport samples to the laboratory as soon after collection as possible. If the specimen cannot be transported and processed within 4 hours, store at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius for up to 24 hours.
Rejection criteria: An unlabeled specimen or any specimen received in a Fixative transport container (Formalin, Ethanol, etc.).
Since bronchoscopic specimens are invasive specimens, all attempts will be made to process these specimens, even if they are compromised (e.g. leaking or cracked container), as long as the safety of laboratory personnel is not at risk. However, on the final report “SPECIMEN QUALITY MAY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED” will appear. (OHSU staff can use the SmartPhrase MMCOMP).
Pediatric Specimen Requirements:
See above.
Synonyms:
CF Culture
Culture, CF
Culture, Sputum Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis Culture
Culture, Urine
Orderable EAP code:
Billable EAP Codes:
CPT Codes:
Lab Section:
Turnaround Time:
Routine: 48 Hours
Urgent: 48 Hours
Test Schedule:
7 days a week
Specimen Requirements:
12 mL urine in a sterile container.
Stable for 2 hours at room temperature or 24 hours refrigerated.
Pediatric Specimen Requirements:
1 mL urine in a sterile container.
Stable for 2 hours at room temperature or 24 hours refrigerated.
Culture, Superficial Wound (Aerobic)
Orderable EAP code:
Billable EAP Codes:
CPT Codes:
Lab Section:
Turnaround Time:
72 Hours
Test Schedule:
7 days a week, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Specimen Requirements:
Specimen collected under sterile conditions.
Preferred specimen type:
E-Swab (Aerobes and Anaerobes) (Opens in a new window)
Stuart Swab (Aerobes only) (Opens in a new window)
Storage and Transport:
Once a swab sample is collected, it should be placed immediately into the E-Swab transport tube or Stuart Swab, where it comes in contact with the transport medium. It should be transported to the laboratory, preferably within 2 hours of collection to maintain optimum organism viability. If immediate delivery is delayed, then specimens should be refrigerated at 4 to 8 degrees C or stored at room temperature (20 to 25 degrees C) and processed within 48 hours, except for Neisseria gonorrhoeae cultures which should be processed within 24 hours.
Pediatric Specimen Requirements:
As above.
Culture, Lower Respiratory
Orderable EAP code:
Billable EAP Codes:
CPT Codes:
Lab Section:
Includes:
Gram stain and susceptibilities on pathogen organism findings.
Turnaround Time:
48 Hours
Test Schedule:
7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm
Specimen Requirements:
Sputum, Endotracheal tube aspirates and Auger suction specimens, Bronchial Alveolar Lavage (BAL) or bronchial brushing.
Specimens should be labeled with the sample type, date and time of collection, and at least two patient identifiers before submission to the laboratory.
Stable for 2 hours at room temperature or 24 hours refrigerated.
Pediatric Specimen Requirements:
Neonates, infants and small children cannot provide an expectorated sputum sample, so the sample should be collected from the upper airway using an Auger. Frequently, a very small amount of sputum secretions can be obtained by this method, so the sample may be submitted in the catheter in a sterile container.
Sputum, Endotracheal tube aspirates and Auger suction specimens, Bronchial Alveolar Lavage (BAL) or bronchial brushing.
Specimens should be labeled with the sample type, date and time of collection, and at least two patient identifiers before submission to the laboratory.
Stable for 2 hours at room temperature or 24 hours refrigerated.
Synonyms:
BAL
Bronch culture
Bronchial Brush
Endotracheal Culture
Sputum Culture and Susceptibility
Tracheal Aspirate Culture
Culture, Strep A
Orderable EAP code:
Billable EAP Codes:
CPT Codes:
Lab Section:
Includes:
Strep. pyogenes (Group A beta Strep), Group C beta Strep, Group G beta Strep, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum.
Turnaround Time:
48 hours.
Test Schedule:
7 days a week.
Specimen Requirements:
E-swab, reg white cap. Culturette (Stuart) okay.
Stability (from collection to initiation) is 24 hours at room temperature.
Unacceptable Conditions: Frozen specimen, nonsterile or leaking containers.
Comments:
Reported: Preliminary in 1 day; Final verified in 2 days.
Synonyms:
Culture, Throat
Strep A Culture
Throat
Throat Culture