Collection Device: Sterile tube or cub, red vacutainer tube, capped syringe, blood culture bottles, Anerobic Transport Medium Vial
NOTE: Anerobic culture work up is performed only if specimens are collected/transported under appropriate anaerobic transport conditions.
NOTE: If fluid is sent in blood culture bottles, please remember to send portion of the specimen separately in another collection device for direct gram stain.
Preferred Draw Volume
5 mL Note: Fluid volumes less than 2 mL (AFTER apportioning for other tests) will not be concentrated for culture media inoculation. Recovery of microorganisms may be compromised by low specimen volume.
Unacceptable Conditions
Swabs are an unacceptable collection device for body fluid culture and stain.
Collection Comments
Indicate site, patient age, current antibiotic therapy, and clinical diagnosis.
Please note additional source, specimen, and contact information.
Storage/Transport Temperature
Transport all collection devices at room temperature within 24 hours.
IF ANAEROBIC WORK UP IS NEEDED:
-Sterile container/tube, capped syringe: at room temperature within 2 hours.
-ATM and Blood culture bottles: at room temperature within 24 hours.
Ordering Recommendations
A Body Fld CX + Stn (culture and stain) includes both a bacterial culture and a microscopic examination of a Gram-stained smear. All organisms that grow in the culture from sterile body fluids are definitively identified. Antibiotic susceptibility testing is performed on potential bacterial pathogens. Cholangitis, an infection of the biliary tract, may progress to bacteremia and sepsis with significant morbidity and mortality. This test is ordered when infection of the common bile duct is suspected. 'Other' ordered when the sample is not from one of the body fluid sources specifically identified by name (e.g. bile, pericardial fluid, etc.) Pericardial fluid, frequently referred to as a "pericardial effusion," is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity around the heart. Large pericardial effusions can negatively affect heart function. This test is ordered to identify an infectious organism as the cause of pericarditis. Peritoneal fluid is a normal, lubricating fluid found in the peritoneal cavity. Excess peritoneal fluid, or ascites, may be present in a number of different conditions including cirrhosis, peritonitis, abdominal/pelvic malignancies, etc. This test is ordered to identify an infectious organism as the cause of excess peritoneal fluid. Pleural effusion, also called "thoracentesis fluid," is excess fluid that accumulates in the space between the pleural layers; large amounts of pleural fluid may make it difficult for the patient to breathe. This test is ordered to identify an infectious organism as the cause of pleuritis. Synovial fluid, also called joint fluid, is normally present in "synovial joints" such as elbows, knees, shoulders, etc. Excess synovial fluid may be present in a number of conditions, including septic joint infections. This test is ordered to identify an infectious organism as the cause of joint symptoms and/or excess synovial fluid. Note: This test is for the detection of bacteria. For AFB or fungi, please refer to the appropriate options in the Directory of Services.
Collection Device: Sterile tube or cub, red vacutainer tube, capped syringe, blood culture bottles, Anerobic Transport Medium Vial
NOTE: Anerobic culture work up is performed only if specimens are collected/transported under appropriate anaerobic transport conditions.
NOTE: If fluid is sent in blood culture bottles, please remember to send portion of the specimen separately in another collection device for direct gram stain.
Preferred Draw Volume
5 mL Note: Fluid volumes less than 2 mL (AFTER apportioning for other tests) will not be concentrated for culture media inoculation. Recovery of microorganisms may be compromised by low specimen volume.
Unacceptable Conditions
Swabs are an unacceptable collection device for body fluid culture and stain.
Collection Comments
Indicate site, patient age, current antibiotic therapy, and clinical diagnosis.
Please note additional source, specimen, and contact information.
Storage/Transport Temperature
Transport all collection devices at room temperature within 24 hours.
IF ANAEROBIC WORK UP IS NEEDED:
-Sterile container/tube, capped syringe: at room temperature within 2 hours.
-ATM and Blood culture bottles: at room temperature within 24 hours.
Ordering
Ordering Recommendations
A Body Fld CX + Stn (culture and stain) includes both a bacterial culture and a microscopic examination of a Gram-stained smear. All organisms that grow in the culture from sterile body fluids are definitively identified. Antibiotic susceptibility testing is performed on potential bacterial pathogens. Cholangitis, an infection of the biliary tract, may progress to bacteremia and sepsis with significant morbidity and mortality. This test is ordered when infection of the common bile duct is suspected. 'Other' ordered when the sample is not from one of the body fluid sources specifically identified by name (e.g. bile, pericardial fluid, etc.) Pericardial fluid, frequently referred to as a "pericardial effusion," is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity around the heart. Large pericardial effusions can negatively affect heart function. This test is ordered to identify an infectious organism as the cause of pericarditis. Peritoneal fluid is a normal, lubricating fluid found in the peritoneal cavity. Excess peritoneal fluid, or ascites, may be present in a number of different conditions including cirrhosis, peritonitis, abdominal/pelvic malignancies, etc. This test is ordered to identify an infectious organism as the cause of excess peritoneal fluid. Pleural effusion, also called "thoracentesis fluid," is excess fluid that accumulates in the space between the pleural layers; large amounts of pleural fluid may make it difficult for the patient to breathe. This test is ordered to identify an infectious organism as the cause of pleuritis. Synovial fluid, also called joint fluid, is normally present in "synovial joints" such as elbows, knees, shoulders, etc. Excess synovial fluid may be present in a number of conditions, including septic joint infections. This test is ordered to identify an infectious organism as the cause of joint symptoms and/or excess synovial fluid. Note: This test is for the detection of bacteria. For AFB or fungi, please refer to the appropriate options in the Directory of Services.
