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Alphabetical Index
Respiratory Culture, Bacterial (8000100184)
Test Mnemonic:

C RESP
Specimen Requirements:
Collection:

Lower Respiratory: Bronchoscopy, aspiration, or surgical collection of lung specimens

Upper Respiratory: nasal swabs, sinus swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs
Container:

Sterile container or Eswab
Minimum Volume:

1ml
Storage/Transport:

Room temperature
Stability:

<= 48 hours
Causes for Rejection:

Leaking container, insufficient specimen; order sputum culture (C SP) for sputum and endotracheal aspirate samples. Specimen container unlabeled or labeled incorrectly. No date and time of collection on requisition form.
Specimen Preparation:

Place fluids in sterile container, Eswab
Methodology:

Lower Respiratory collections: Gram stain, culture for the isolation and identification of bacteria, includes susceptibility testing, when appropriate.

Upper Respiratory collections: Nasal specimens are screened for Staphylococcus aureus; Nasopharyngeal specimens are primarily used to detect meningococcal carriers and whooping cough diagnosis.

Performed:

Clinical Microbiology
Turnaround Time:

 2-5 Days

Reference Range:

No organisms isolated or only respiratory flora isolated.
CPT 4 Code:

 87070; 87205 Gram stain on fluids and aspirates;  additional if appropriate
Synonyms:

Bronchial aspirate culture; BAL Culture, bacterial; Culture, bronchoscopy specimen for bacteria; Bronchial Lavage, Bronchial Wash; Nares, Nasal, Sinus
Clinical Indication:

Upper or lower respiratory infection (see sputum culture for sputum samples)
Effective Date: 05/13/2024
Reviewed By/Date: Williams-Bouyer, Natalie - 09/19/2018
Approved By/Date: Williams-Bouyer, Natalie - 05/16/2024
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.

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