| Ordering Code | 621 |
|---|---|
| Test Name | Anaerobic Culture |
| Alias | Anaerobic Culture, Abscess Anaerobic Culture, Wound Abscess Culture, Anaerobic Culture, Anaerobic Anaerobic Culture, Body Fluid Anaerobic Culture, Tissue Culture |
| Preferred Specimen | Body Fluid (except CSF), Aspirates and Tissue |
| Preferred Container | Body Fluid and Aspirates: Capped syringe, with needle removed and air expelled. |
| Other Specimen/Container | **Swabs are not optimal, but will accept Eswab or anaerobic transport media** |
| Optimum Volume | Aspirates: 3 mL Sterile Body Fluids (Pleural Fld., etc.): 5 mL Tissue: 1 gm Any Body Site Swab: 2 Swabs |
| Collection Instructions | Specimen site must be from areas without normal anaerobic flora. Collect aseptically. Indicate specimen source on the requisition. |
| Handling Instructions | Specimen must be placed immediately in Eswab or anaerobic transport. If sending specimen in syringe, expel the air, remove the needle and cap syringe securely. |
| Transport Requirements | Oahu: Ambient Airline: Ambient |
| Specimen Stability | Ambient: 2 Days Anaerobic condition must be maintained. |
| Rejection Criteria | Specimen older than stability limits, Inappropriate site for anaerobic culture, Non-anaerobic conditions, Refrigerated, Frozen, syringe with needle attached Note: specimens with rejection concerns that cannot be recollected (e.g. surgical tissue) will be processed upon receipt and the ordering physician consulted CSF is not recommended for anaerobic cultures; anaerobes may be present only when a meningeal abscess or similar infectious process is adjacent to the meninges. In this case, an abscess aspirate is recommended. |
| Avail. Stat | NO |
| Analytic Time | Up to 4 Days Preliminary culture results reported at 48 hours. If culture grows, additional time is needed for identification. |
| Methodology | Visual examination for bacterial growth on selective and non-selective media. |
