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Alphabetical Index


Urine Culture, Bacterial (8000100006)
Test Mnemonic:

C UR

Specimen Requirements:

Please specify is sample is collected by clean catch, straight catheter, nephrostomy, suprapubic or indwelling catheter. 

Collection:

 

For straight catheter urines, collect after catheter is aseptically inserted and after 15mL of urine has passed. 

For indwelling catheters, disinfect the collection port with 70% alcohol. Clamp catheter below port and allow urine to collect in tubing for 10-20 minutes. Use a needle to syringe 5-10 milliliters of urine into a sterile container or preservative tube. 

Container:

Gray top tube for urine culture with boric acid preservative. 

Sterile containers are acceptable if storage and transport requirements are followed.

Minimum Volume:

3 mL for for urine in preservative tube vacutainer.

1 mL for sterile containers.

Storage/Transport:

Unpreserved urine in sterile container - 2 hours at room temperature. Otherwise, can be stored up to 24 hours at 2-8º C. 

Urine in preservative tube - up to 48 hours refrigerated or at room temperature. 

Stability:

Urine in preservative tube- up to 48 hours, refrigerated or room temperature. 

Urine in sterile containers, unpreserved - 2 hours, room temperature. 24 hours, 2-8° C. 

Causes for Rejection:

Urine received > 2 hours after collection at room temperature in sterile/non preserved container. Urine in preservative tube received >48 hours after collection. 

Leaking container, insufficient quantity, incorrect gray top vacutainer, missing or conflicting patient information. One sample per 24 hours during a hospital admission is acceptable unless collected by different methods. Multiple samples with the same collection method within 24 hours may be rejected as duplicates.

Methodology:

Quantitative culture of urine including colony count, isolation of potential pathogens, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing when appropriate. 

Performed:

Clinical Microbiology

Turnaround Time:

If no organisms isolated, turnaround time is 24-48 hours. Turnaround time for cultures with potentional pathogens may vary. 

Reference Range:

No aerobic growth (<1,000 CFU/mL) 

CPT 4 Code:

87070- Culture, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates.   

Additional CPT codes may apply when potential pathogens are recovered 

 

Note:

Gram stain not routinely performed on urine cultures. If a Gram stain is needed, please order a direct Gram stain test.

 

Synonyms:

Urine Culture; Culture, urine; Bacterial culture, urine

Patient Preparation :

The patient is given instructions on how to collect a clean-catch, mid-stream urine. Indwelling, straight catheter, and suprapubic collections should be performed by the appropriate personnel. 

Clinical Indication:

Patients with signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection caused by bacteria or yeast.

Effective Date: 04/30/2024
Reviewed By/Date: Williams-Bouyer, Natalie - 09/19/2018
Approved By/Date: Williams-Bouyer, Natalie - 04/30/2024
When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent.