Lower Respiratory Bacterial Culture and Sensitivity with Gram Stain
General Information
Lab Name
Lower Resp C/S w/Gram
Lab Code
LRSC
Epic Name
Culture Resp Lower, Bact w/ Stain
Description
For quantitative culture on BAL, see Lower Respiratory Bacterial Culture, Quantitative with Gram Stain [LRSQNC]
For Cystic Fibrosis culture, see Lower Respiratory Culture for Cystic Fibrosis [LRSCFC]
For R/O Mycoplasma pneumoniae, see Mycoplasma pneumoniae by PCR [MPNPCR].
Synonyms
BAL Culture, Bronchial Culture, ETT Culture, Sputum Culture
Components
| Code | Name |
|---|---|
| SDES | Specimen Description |
| SREQ | Special Requests |
| GS | Gram Smear |
| CULT | Culture |
| RPT | Report Status |
Interpretation
Reference Range
See individual components
Guidelines
Ordering & Collection
Specimen Type
Collection
Sputum: obtain specimen from deep cough (usually in AM), induction or intubation; do not send saliva.
Sputum gram stains are screened for oropharyngeal contamination and specimens are rejected for culture if the gram stain shows few WBC's and moderate squamous epithelial cells. A new specimen will be requested for culture.
Handling Instructions
Transport specimens in a sterile, leak-proof container. Ideally, specimens should be transported to the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. If transport time will exceed 2 hours, specimens should be stored and transported refrigerated.
Specimens will be rejected if received > 24 hours after collection. Viability of organisms is significantly reduced after 24 hours.
Quantity
requested: Sputum: 2-5 mL, Tracheal Aspirate: 1-2 mL, BAL: > 1 mL
minimum: 1 mL
Processing
If quantitative culture is requested on BAL (not sputum), order LRSQNC.
Performance
LIS Dept Code
Microbiology (MC)
Performing Location(s)
| HMC |
Microbiology
206-744-5858 325 9th Ave, Rm # GWH-47, Seattle, WA 98104-2420 |
|
|---|---|---|
| UW-MT |
Microbiology
206-520-4600 Clinical Lab, Room # NW177, |
Other Locations/Notes
UW-MT Microbiology performs testing for UW-MT and UW-NW.
Frequency
Processed upon receipt
Available STAT?
Yes-Gram stain
Billing & Coding
CPT codes
87070, 87205
Billing Comments
Bronchial fluid Gram stains are concentrated by cytocentrifugation, which is an additional charge (see ADDCON).
LOINC
Interfaced Order Code
UOW2679