Preliminary results on all cultures are reported in 12-24 hours. The health care provider will be notified of positive cultures. Negative cultures will be reported after 4 weeks.
Test Updated:
Candida, CSF
Cryptococcus, CSF
CSF, Fungus Culture
Culture, CSF, Fungus
FNG
Fungus Culture, Cerebrospinal Fluid
Spinal Fluid, Fungus Culture
FUNGUS CULTURE/SMEAR
Nocardia Culture, CSF
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Test Overview
Culture
Establish the presence of filamentous fungi, dimorphic pathogens 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.
Specimen Requirements
Please contact the laboratory at 936-6877 for smear only or culture requests for Histoplasma, Blastomyces, or Coccidioides. Clinical neurological diagnosis must be noted on the requisition for processing (test will be performed as requested for Neurology patients). Fungal cultures are not routinely performed on cerebrospinal fluid due to the low probability of recovery of molds. CSF is the specimen of choice for detection of cryptococcal meningitis in adults and Candida meningitis in children. Cryptococcus antigen test will be performed when CSF is received for suspected cryptococcal meningitis. Candida species will grow on routine (aerobic) CSF culture. Fungus culture is not performed for suspected cryptococcal or Candida meningitis. Collect specimen after sterile preparation of aspiration site. For optimum recovery, send immediately. If specimen must be stored and Histoplasma isolation is not desired, refrigerate immediately after specimen collection and up to 24 hrs. If Histoplasma isolation is desired, keep specimen at room temperature and send within 4 hrs of specimen collection. Indicate specimen source, collection date/time, current antibiotic therapy and clinical diagnosis on requisition.
Clinical neurological diagnosis must be noted on the requisition for processing. Please contact MLabs at 800-862-7284 to request smear only or culture for Histoplasma, Blastomyces, or Coccidioides. Fungal cultures are not routinely performed on cerebrospinal fluid due to the low probability of recovery of molds. CSF is the specimen of choice for detection of cryptococcal meningitis in adults and Candida meningitis in children. Cryptococcus antigen test will be performed when CSF is received for suspected cryptococcal meningitis. Candida species will grow on routine (aerobic) CSF culture. Collect specimen after sterile preparation of aspiration site. For optimum recovery, send immediately. If specimen must be stored and Histoplasma isolation is not desired, refrigerate immediately after specimen collection. May be refrigerated up to 24 hrs. If Histoplasma isolation is desired, keep specimen at room temperature and send within 4 hrs of specimen collection. Indicate specimen source, collection date/time, current antibiotic therapy and clinical diagnosis on requisition. If an unacceptable specimen is received, the client will be notified before disposal of the original specimen.