| Ordering Code | 93 |
|---|---|
| Test Name | Lower Resp Tract Cult w/Gram Stain |
| Alias | Sputum Culture Bronchial Brush Culture Bronchial Wash Culture Trans-tracheal Culture |
| Preferred Specimen | Expectorated Sputum, Bronchoscopy (Includes Brushings, Transbronchial Biopsy, Bronchial washes or lavage), Tracheal Aspirate, Trans-tracheal aspirate |
| Preferred Container | Sterile Container (Cup or plastic conical tube) Note: Hospital expectorated sputums are evaluated for quality and rejected if the Q-rating is 2 or less. |
| Optimum Volume | 5 mL |
| Collection Instructions | For expectorated sputums, the first morning, deep cough (not saliva) specimen is optimal. Bronchial brushes should be sent in sterile normal saline to prevent drying and separate air-dried slides should be sent for the gram stain. Indicate specimen source on the requisition. |
| Transport Requirements | Oahu: Refrigerated Airline: Refrigerated |
| Specimen Stability | Ambient: 2 Hours Refrigerated: 24 Hours |
| Rejection Criteria | Specimen older than stability limits, Frozen, Specimens in tissue paper, Pooled specimens, Hospital expectorated sputums with Q-ratings of 2 or less. |
| Avail. Stat | YES |
| Analytic Time | Up to 3 Days STAT smear results available within 1 hour from receipt by testing department. Routine smear results available with in 1 day. Preliminary culture results at 24 and 48 hours Additional time is required for identification &/or susceptibility testing if culture is positive. |
| Methodology | Examination for bacterial growth on selective & non-selective media. Microscopic examination of smear for bacteria and human cells, and differentiation using a gram stain. |
Reference range(s)
The reference ranges listed below are valid on this date of December 3, 2024.
| Component | Age | Male Norm | Male Critical Low | Male Critical High | Female Norm | Female Critical High | Female Critical Low | Units | Add'l info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: | ALL | See report. | |||||||
| Report Status: | ALL | See report. | |||||||
| Gram Stain: | ALL | See report. | |||||||
| Culture | ALL | See report. |