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Test Code C CSF Culture, CSF/Spinal Fluid

Methodology

Culture with Gram Stain

Specimen Requirements

Note: As with other cultures, administration of antimicrobial therapy prior to culture may make recovery of pathogens difficult to impossible.

 

1.  Specimen Source is Required.

2.  Refer to the Microbiology Specimen Collection Procedure for collection instructions.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Reference Values

No Growth

Critical value (automatic call-back): All positive Gram stain results and any Positive Growth in culture..

Test Classification and CPT Coding

87070-Culture

87205-Gram stain

Performing Laboratory

Beebe Healthcare Laboratory

Performing Location

Margaret H. Rollins Laboratory

Specimen Transport Temperature

Ambient

Additional Information

Cultures are worked up and reported per standard Microbiology guidelines.  Full organism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing are performed when appropriate and will incur additional CPT codes and charges.  Pertinent patient history should be communicated directly to the Microbiology Department when necessary (patient travel history, suspect and/or rule out certain pathogens, any unusual circumstances, etc) so that the culture can be worked up appropriately.  If additional workup is required beyond the final culture report, please contact the Microbiology Department at (302)-645-3563 within 5 days to discuss the case with a technologist.