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.
Single negative cultures do not rule out the presence of fungal infection. If two specimens are received simultaneously they will be pooled and processed as one specimen unless specific instructions to the contrary are indicated on the requisition, and approved by a supervisor.
Test Details
Preliminary results on all cultures are reported in 12-24 hours. The health care provider will be notified of cultures positive with systemic pathogens. Negative cultures will be reported after 4 weeks.
- Bronchus, Fungus Culture
- Culture, Sputum, Fungus
- Endotracheal, Fungus Culture
- Sputum Culture, Fungus
- Gastric, Fungus Culture
- Histoplasma, Fungus Culture
- Histoplasma, Fungus Culture, Sputum
- Tracheal, Fungus Culture
- Nocardia Culture, Sputum
Specimen Requirements
The patient should be instructed to remove dentures, rinse mouth with water and cough deeply, expectorating sputum into the sputum collection cup. First morning sputum, first morning gastric aspirate, induced sputum, aspirated sputum, bronchial aspirate, tracheal aspirate, transtracheal aspirate, or endotracheal aspirate are acceptable specimens. If Histoplasma or other fungal species is suspected, indicate on requisition. For optimum recovery, send directly to the MLabs. 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. Specify specimen source, collection date/time, current antibiotic therapy, and clinical diagnosis. Do not submit more than four specimens in one 7 day period unless by prior arrangement. If an unacceptable specimen is received, the client will be notified and another specimen will be requested before disposal of the 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.