Test Overview
Culture
Establish the presence of filamentous fungi, dimorphic pathogens, Candida species and aerobic actinomycetes.
No fungi or aerobic actinomycete isolated.
* Reference ranges may change over time. Please refer to the original patient report when evaluating results.
A single negative culture does not rule out the presence of fungal infection.
Test Details
Preliminary results are reported in 12-24 hours. The health care provider will be notified of positive cultures. Negative cultures are reported after 4 weeks.
- Ascitic Fluid, Fungus Culture
- Culture, Body Fluid, Fungus
- Body Fluid Culture, Fungus
- Pericardial Fluid, Fungus Culture
- Peritoneal Fluid, Fungus Culture
- Pleural Fluid, Fungus Culture
- Synovial Fluid, Fungus Culture
- Thoracentesis Fluid, Fungus Culture
- Nocardia Culture, Body Fluid
Specimen Requirements
Collect body fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, synovial fluid, ascitic fluid, or thoracentesis fluid in a sterile container. Do not refrigerate or incubate. For optimum recovery, send directly to MLabs. If Histoplasma isolation is desired, keep specimen at room temperature and send to MLabs within 4 hrs of specimen collection. If specimen must be stored and Histoplasma isolation is not desired, refrigerate immediately after specimen collection. May be refrigerated up to 24 hrs. Specimen Collection: Cleanse area with soap solution, remove soap with 70% ethanol. Apply 1% tincture of iodine. Iodine must remain on skin 2-4 minutes for maximum effectiveness. Remove with 70% alcohol. If patient is allergic to iodine, alcohol alone can be used. DO NOT TOUCH prepared skin during collection of specimen.
Additional Information
Test includes culture and, if specimen is adequate, direct smear. Isolation of Histoplasma is suboptimal from specimens older than 4 hrs and is unlikely from specimens older than 8 hrs.