Test Overview
Quantitative Culture
To isolate and identify organisms causing urinary tract infection.
No growth
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
The following will be reported: Any quantity of pure pathogen, >1,000 CFU/ml: 1 - 2 pathogens; flora type bacteria present in numbers less than 1,000 CFU/mL will not be detected. Cultures growing 3 or more potential pathogens will be rejected. Normal skin flora includes: coagulase negative Staphylococcus (unless predominant), alpha and gamma streptococci, Neisseria sp (not N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningtidis), Micrococcus, diphtheroids/Lactobacillus and Bacillus sp (not B. anthracis).
Test Details
Preliminary results are reported in 18-24 hours. Negative cultures are reported after 2 days.
- URINE CULTURE
- URCC
- Aerobic Culture, Catheterized Urine
- Urine, Catheterized, Routine Culture
- Culture, Urine, Catheterized, Aerobic
- Routine Culture, Catheterized Urine
Specimen Requirements
Collect freely flowing urine specimen from catheter. For optimum recovery, send immediately. If specimen must be stored, refrigerate immediately after specimen collection. A Vacutainer® Urine C&S Transport kit should be used to store specimens for routine urine culture. The Vacutainer® tube contains a lyophilized preservative that prevents the proliferation of bacteria in specimens that must remain at room temperature for an extended period prior to transport to the laboratory. Note that this kit is for microbiology urine cultures only; the specimen cannot be used for urinalysis or any urine chemistry test. Contact the MLabs Client Services Center for kits and instructions.
Refrigerated: Urine in grey top Vacutainer® Urine C&S tube up to 48 hours or sterile cup up to 24 hours.
Frozen: No
Urine in Vacutainer® Urine C&S tube >48hrs.
Specimen taken from urine collection bag when indwelling catheter is in place.
Specimens received on Urine Paddle
Additional Information
Test includes culture and Gram stain smear if sufficient specimen is received and Gram stain is requested. Potentially pathogenic organisms will be identified. Test includes susceptibility testing of potentially pathogenic organism(s) at an additional charge unless specifically declined.