BACTERIAL CULTURE RESPIRATORY & SMEAR (C + S)

Specimen Information

Container	Specimen	Temp	Collect Vol	Submit Vol	Min Vol	Stability
Sterile Container	Sputum	Refrig	5 mL	5 mL	1 mL	24 hrs
Sterile Container	Protected cath brushings	Refrig	N/A	N/A	N/A	24 hrs
Sterile Container	Bronchoalv lavage (BAL)	Refrig	N/A	N/A	N/A	24 hrs
Sterile Container	Lung Aspirate	Refrig	N/A	N/A	N/A	24 hrs
Sterile Container	Lung Tissue	Refrig	1 gram	1 gram	0.2 gram	24 hrs
Sterile Container	Expectoration	Refrig	10 mL	10 mL	1 mL	24 hrs
Sterile Container	Bronchoscopy	Refrig	10 mL	10 mL	1 mL	24 hrs
Sterile Container	Tracheal aspiration	Refrig	10 mL	10 mL	1 mL	24 hrs
Sterile Container	Transtracheal aspiration	Refrig	10 mL	10 mL	1 mL	24 hrs
Sterile Container	Biopsy	Refrig	10 mL	10 mL	1 mL	24 hrs
Bacterial/Yeast Collection Kit	Throat*	Refrig				24 hrs

Specimens should originate from the lungs or bronchial tree. Saliva and postnasal drip materials are not suitable for testing. Specimens may be obtained by expectoration, bronchoscopy, tracheal aspiration, transtracheal aspiration, or biopsy. Submit the sample in a sterile screw-capped container, syringe, or leukens tube. All containers must be leak proof. Deliver the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible.

*If swab is received a smear will not be performed.

Test Schedule / Analytical Time / Test Priority

Daily / Sputum cultures 48 hours, other respiratory cultures 5 days / Gram smear available STAT

Method

Culture & Smear

CPT(s)

Description	CPT Code
Gram Stain	87205
Routine Culture	87070

Instrumentation

Manual Method

Reference Range

Usual oropharyngeal flora

Section

Microbiology-1

Performing Location

University of Vermont Medical Center

Is the UVMMC lab NY State Certified to perform this testing? Yes/No

Yes

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Test Code LAB900 BACTERIAL CULTURE RESPIRATORY & SMEAR (C + S)