Sputum culture, stain

Alphabetical Test listing

Sputum culture, stain-6561

  
Sputum culture, stain
  
6561
  
LAB6561
  
SPU
  
  • Culture
  • Gram stain
  • Identification, susceptibilities and serogrouping will be performed on all microbiology isolates considered by the laboratory to be significant
  

Aiding in diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections.

  
Sputum
  
  

Collect an expectorated, induced, or aspirated sputum

Expectorated sputums should preferably be an early morning, deep cough specimen

  

Sputum may be submitted in the collection container, or placed in the transport liquid of the ESwab (no more than half the liquid volume)

  

Screw cap plastic container (sterile) or

ESwab transport tube

  
Tracheal aspirate
  

Sterile container:
Ambient within 2 hours (preferred), within 24 hours is acceptable.

ESwab transport tube:
Refrigerated - 24 hours
Ambient - 24 hours

  
  • Improper label (unlabeled or mislabeled)
  • Time delay between time of collection and receipt of specimen
  • Inappropriate timing of collection
  • Improper transport container
  • Improper transport temperature
  • Interfering substances
  • Inappropriate specimen type
  • Expectorated sputum with oropharyngeal contamination
  • Leaking container
  
AHL - Microbiology: M
  
Daily
  
Preliminary - 1 day
Final - 2 days
  

Culture and gram stain

  
87070
87205

Additional CPT codes (if appropriate):
87186 - Sensitivities
87077 - ID

This list may not be all inclusive if there is the need to send the ID or sensitivities out to a referral laboratory
  
11/30/2001
  
12/20/2023
  
12/15/2023