Test Searches require one of the following browsers: Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. This page WILL NOT WORK with Internet Explorer versions 8 or older.

Alphabetical Index
Body Fluid Culture(Aerobic/Anaerobic), Bacterial (8000100036)
Test Mnemonic:

C BF, or C BFBN if submitted in blood culture bottles (BACTEC)
Specimen Requirements:
Test Included:

Aerobic and anaerobic culture. Gram stain if C BF ordered. If Gram stain is wanted with C BFBN, collect fluid into a separate sterile container along with BACTEC bottles and order a Direct Gram stain test.
Collection:

Using aseptic technique, collect fluid in sterile container or inject 5-10 ml of fluid into an aerobic blood culture bottle.

 
Container:

Sterile container; Eswab; BACTEC bottles (Plus Aerobic/F, Lytic/10 Anaerobic/F, Peds Plus/F)
Minimum Volume:

1ml
Storage/Transport:

Room Temperature. Transport immediately. Do not refrigerate.
Stability:

24 hours
Causes for Rejection:

Specimen container unlabeled or labeled incorrectly. No date and time of collection. Site/source not indicated. Refrigerated.
Specimen Preparation:

Blood culture bottles are recommended for optimal recovery when small quantity of bacteria are present.
Methodology:

C BF includes Gram stain, aerobic and anaerobic culture

 
Performed:

Clinical Microbiology
Turnaround Time:

3-5 days for C BF

5 - 8 days for C BFBN
Reference Range:

No organisms isolated.
CPT 4 Code:

 C BF 87070, 87075, 87205; C BFBN 87040, additional codes if indicated
Note:

BACTEC bottles are available through Materials Management
Synonyms:

Sterile Fluid Culture; Joint Fluid Culture; Pleural Fluid Culture; Knee Fluid Culture; Peritoneal Fluid, Culture; Thoracentesis Fluid culture; Synovial Fluid Culture, Bone Marrow Culture
Patient Preparation :

Sterile body fluid collection by aseptic technique using various patient preparation methods.
Clinical Indication:

Suspected bacterial infection of a normally sterile fluid
Effective Date: 05/02/2024
Reviewed By/Date: Williams-Bouyer, Natalie - 09/19/2018
Approved By/Date: Williams-Bouyer, Natalie - 05/02/2024
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.

« Back