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Ordering Code	644A
Test Name	Body Fluid Culture and Gram Stain
Alias	Amniotic Fluid Culture Joint Fluid Culture Pericardial Fluid Culture Peritoneal Fluid Culture Pleural Fluid Culture Synovial Fluid Culture Thoracentesis Culture
Preferred Specimen	Non-CSF Body Fluid
Preferred Container	Sterile Container (e.g. Vacutainer tube without preservative)
Other Specimen/Container	Specimen may be submitted in a syringe but MUST have needle removed and securely capped with a Luer Tip Cap Specimen may be submitted in Blood Culture bottles using appropriate fill volume criteria, but unprocessed sample must also be submitted.
Optimum Volume	10 mL
Transport Requirements	Oahu: Ambient Airline: Ambient
Specimen Stability	Ambient: 1 Day Body fluids will be accepted up to 2 days, but fastidious organisms may not remain viable after 24 hours, or if specimen is received refrigerated.
Rejection Criteria	Clotted, Frozen, Leaking specimen, Preservatives used Culturettes are not appropriate transport devices for fluid specimens due to potential leakage NOTE: Specimens with rejection concerns will be processed upon receipt and the ordering physician consulted.
Avail. Stat	YES
Analytic Time	Up to 5 Days Preliminary reports at 24 and 48 hours. Additional time may be required for identification and/or susceptibility testing if culture is positive.
Methodology	Visual examination for bacterial growth on/in selective and non-selective media, and microscopic examination of smear for bacteria and differential using a Gram stain.

Reference range(s)

The reference ranges listed below are valid on this date of October 27, 2025.