Test ID: GEN
Bacterial Culture, Aerobic
NY State Approved 
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Identifying the bacteria responsible for infections of sterile body fluids, tissues, or wounds
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Conventional Culture Technique
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Aerobic Culture
Bacteria Aerobic Culture (CSF)
50001-GEN
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Forms: If not ordering electronically, submit a Microbiology Request Form (Supply T244) with the specimen.
Specimen must be received in laboratory within 24 hours of collection.
Specimen source is required; include the specific anatomic source. Indicate whether it is a "surface" or "deep/surgical" specimen. Do not label only as "wound."
Preferred:
Specimen Type: Closed abscess
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: Entire collection
Collection Instructions: Aspirate the abscess contents with a syringe.
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient
Acceptable:
Specimen Type: Open abscess, swab, tissue, or fluid
Sources: Abscess, aspirate, lesion, or wound
Container/Tube: Sterile container or culture transport swab
Collection Instructions: For most open lesions and abscesses, remove superficial flora by decontaminating skin before collecting a specimen from advancing margin or base.
Additional Information:
1. If submitting a specimen from a source contaminated with usual flora, send at refrigerated temperature.
2. Refrigerated specimens are not suitable for isolation of Neisseria species.
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | NA |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Varies | Varies | 24 hours |
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Sterile Body Fluids and Normally Sterile Tissues:
In response to infection, fluid may accumulate in any body cavity.
Wound, Abscess, Exudates:
Skin and soft tissue infections can occur as a result of a break in the skin surface, or they can occur as complications of surgery, trauma, human, animal, or insect bites or diseases that interrupt a mucosal or skin surface. Specimen collection is of utmost importance for these specimen types. For most open lesions and abscesses, remove the superficial flora by decontaminating the skin before collecting a specimen from the advancing margin or base. A closed abscess is the specimen site of choice. Aspirate the abscess contents with a syringe.
The specific anatomic site is required to establish possible contaminating flora in the area of specimen collection for appropriate reporting of culture results. For this reason, specimens should be labeled as to the specific anatomic source and to distinguish between "surface" and "deep/surgical" specimens. Do not label only as "wound."
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
No growth or usual flora
Identification of probable pathogens
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Any microorganism found where no resident flora is present is considered significant and is reported. For specimens contaminated with the usual bacterial flora, bacteria that are potentially pathogenic are identified.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
No significant cautionary statements.
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
Forbes BA, Sahm DF, Weissfeld AS: Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology. 11th edtion. Mosby, St. Louis, MO, 2002, pp 907-926, 972-994
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Specimens are cultured to enriched and/or selective media appropriate to the anatomic location and the scope of microorganisms expected. Cultures are incubated for 2 to 5 days depending on the specimen source. Pathogen or possible pathogens are identified; "usual flora" is reported as such (as appropriate to the specimen). (Isenberg HD: Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook. Washington, DC. ASM Press, 1992, Sections 1.8, 1.9, 1.11, 1.13, 1.16)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Sunday; Continuously
Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
Bacterial Culture, Aerobic
87070
Gram Negative Bacillus Ident
87077 (if appropriate)
Identification Commercial Kit
87077 (if appropriate)
Ident by MALDI-TOF mass spec
87077 (if appropriate)
Fluorescent Method Culture Typing
87140 (if appropriate)
Bacteria Identification
87077 (if appropriate)
Aerobe Ident by Sequencing
87153 (if appropriate)
Additional Identification Procedure
87077 (if appropriate)
Serologic Agglut Method Ident
87147 (if appropriate)
Serologic Agglut Method Ident
87147 (if appropriate)
Identification Staphylococcus
87077 (if appropriate)
Identification Streptococcus
87077 (if appropriate)
Tissue Processing
87176 (if appropriate)
Beta Lactamase
87185 (if appropriate)
KPC PCR
87150 (if appropriate)
Hodge Test
87185 (if appropriate)
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| GEN | Bacterial Culture, Aerobic | In Process |
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